Currency dispenser

ABSTRACT

A vertically arranged combination desktop currency denominating machine and currency dispenser comprising a currency denominating module adapted to receive a stack of currency bills to be denominated and to denominate the received currency bills, wherein a transport mechanism transports bills individually from an input receptacle adapted to receive the stack of currency bills to one or more output receptacles. The combination further comprising a dispenser retaining section adapted to store currency bills to be dispensed to the one or more output receptacles during a dispensing operation, the retaining section comprising one or more dispensing receptacles, each dispensing receptacle adapted to hold bills having a common denomination, wherein the dispenser retainer section is positioned above the currency denominating module.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/445,656, filed Feb. 7, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The field of the invention relates generally to a documentprocessing system and, more specifically, to systems whereby documentsare withdrawn and/or deposited into the document processing system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Currently, in financial institutions, when tellers acceptdeposits from customers, currency bills may be manually counted and thenput into a cash drawer. Checks are often clipped with a receiptindicating the depositor and then put to the side until the teller hastime to verify the amounts. In some instances, the currency bills andthe checks may both be set aside for processing at a later time.Generally, however, the customer is given a receipt at the time thetransaction occurs, indicating the amount of the transaction. Thereceipt is generally based on the numbers given to the teller by thecustomer.

[0004] Since the currency bills are put into the cash drawer along withother currency bills, there is no way to track the currency bills thatare deposited into the system. After bills have been placed into thecash drawer, there is no way to tie or link the currency bills whichhave been deposited to the customer who deposited them. If a currencybill is subsequently identified as being counterfeit (for example, whenthe bill is forwarded to the Federal Reserve and the Federal Reserveidentifies the bill as being counterfeit), the bank must bear the losssince the currency bill was not linked or otherwise associated with theperson depositing the bill.

[0005] As mentioned above, the amounts of the checks are often notverified until after the customer is given a receipt for thetransaction. If there is a discrepancy, such as an adding error on thepart of the customer, the customer will not be notified until afterreceiving a receipt indicating otherwise. Since the customer has areceipt indicating the amount of the deposit, the customer may rely onthis information. For example, the customer may withdraw or write checksbased on the amount recorded on the receipt. Although a hold may alsohave been placed on the deposited funds, unless there are cleared fundsto cover the attempted withdrawal, such attempts to withdraw may causethe customer to overdraw, which may cause customer dissatisfaction.

[0006] Also, when a customer requests money from the teller, the tellermust manually count out and distribute the funds. This may be a timeconsuming process, which may also cause customer dissatisfaction.Furthermore, the teller may make an error in counting out the currencybills. If the teller withdraws too little, the customer is likely to bedissatisfied. If the teller withdraws too much, the customer may notinform the institution, which would cause the institution to lose money.

[0007] Another problem with the current situation is that depositedchecks often must be transported to another location for scanning andprocessing. This creates an extra step, adding time to a time sensitiveprocess (since the checks must be presented to the issuing bank within acertain amount of time).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] One embodiment is a currency processing system for receiving astack of currency bills from a user, for dispensing bills to a user, andfor denominating both bills received and bills dispensed. In oneembodiment, the system comprises an input receptacle for receiving thestack of bills; and a single output receptacle for receiving processedbills, wherein the single output receptacle is spaced apart from theinput receptacle and easily accessible to the user. A transportmechanism is adapted to transport bills individually from the inputreceptacle to the single output receptacle. A dispensing receptaclecontains bills for dispensing; and a dispensing mechanism is adapted todispense bills individually from the dispensing receptacle to thetransport mechanism for individual transport to the single outputreceptacle. A sensor is positioned relative to the transport mechanismto acquire evaluation data from each bill, in seriatim, as the bills aretransported to the single output receptacle. A processor is coupled tothe sensor and adapted to determine denomination of a bill based on theevaluation data associated with the bill, whereby each bill transportedto the single output receptacle may be denominated.

[0009] In some embodiments, more than one output receptacle is provided.

[0010] In some embodiments, the currency processing system includes animage scanner adapted to obtain an image of the bills deposited and/ordispensed.

[0011] Some embodiments are similar to those described above but areadditionally adapted to process documents in addition to currency billssuch as checks and hence constitute document processing systems.

[0012] The above summary of the present invention is not intended torepresent each embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention.This is the purpose of the figures and the detailed description whichfollow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a dispensing device according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIGS. 2a and 2 b illustrate potential bill orientations fortransporting a bill through a scanner;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a document processing device adaptedto receive a deposit and to dispense a withdrawal;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a deposit device in accordance withan embodiment of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example image scanner which may beused in conjunction with some of the dispensing and/or deposit devicesdiscussed in this application;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of example bill discriminatingcomponents which may be used in conjunction with some of the dispensingand/or deposit devices discussed in this application;

[0019]FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a document processing system inaccordance with principles of the invention and having dispensingcapabilities;

[0020]FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a single output receptacleembodiment of a compact document processing system;

[0021]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a currency dispensing deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a deposit device according to oneembodiment of the present invention; and

[0023]FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a compact document processingsystem comprising a barrier around dispensing receptacles.

[0024] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. Itshould be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to belimited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Currently, employees such as tellers and cashiers, utilize amanual system for accepting and dispensing currency bills and financialinstitution documents to and from customers. The term “employee” refersto anyone authorized by the institution to update a customer's accountat the institution or authorized to transact at least some types ofbusiness on behalf of the institution; store or casino. This may includetellers, customer service representatives, trust bankers, and othersemployed by a financial institution. It also may include cashiersemployed by a store or a casino. This term also includes people who maynot be employees of the institution, but are authorized to access theaccounts, such as contract workers, consultants, and/or jobbers.

[0026] The term “currency bills” refers to all paper or currencypaper-like currency (e.g., sheet currency made of or comprisingplastic), including both U.S. And foreign currency bills.

[0027] The term “financial institution documents” refers to checks,deposit slips, withdrawal slips, loan payment documents, loan requestdocuments, etc. The employees may also accept and/or disburse coupons orbar coded documents, such as coupons redeemable at a grocery store orbar coded winnings tickets that indicate the amount of prize money wonby an individual.

[0028] The term “customer” refers to a person having an account at theinstitution or using the services of the institution. For example, acustomer at a bank is a person having an account at the bank. A customerat a grocery store is someone purchasing goods at the store. A customerat a casino is someone who is gambling or purchasing goods at thecasino.

[0029] The terms “operator” and “user” are general terms referring toanyone, customers, employees, or others, who are operating or otherwiseusing the system. The discussion below focuses on use of a system at afinancial institution such as a bank and a customer depositing andwithdrawing funds via the system. The concepts discussed herein are alsoapplicable to retail stores, casinos, and other businesses.

[0030] Currently, employees must manually count out the currency billsand financial institution documents they receive and disburse; this istime consuming and increases the risk of miscounting and counterfeitsbeing passed and other errors occurring. To reduce these risks andothers, a document processing device of the present invention may beused.

[0031] Turning now to FIG. 1, a currency dispensing system 100 accordingto one embodiment of the present invention is described. The currencydispensing system 100 includes a plurality of dispensers 102 a-f and anoutput receptacle 104. Each of the dispensers 102 a-f is adapted to holda different denomination of currency, or like denomination of currency.For example, dispenser 102 a may hold $1, dispenser 102 b may hold $5,dispenser 102 c may hold $10, dispenser 102 d may bold $20, dispenser102 e may hold $50, and dispenser 102 f may hold $100. Alternatively,two or more dispensers may hold the same denomination. For example, inthe above example, dispenser 102 c my hold $20 rather than $10 so thatboth dispensers 102 c and 102 d would hold $20 bills. Such arrangementsmay be useful when it expected that more of one or more denominations,such as $20s, will be dispensed relative to some of the otherdenominations.

[0032] Each of the plurality of dispensers 102 a-f is connected to theoutput receptacle 104 via a transport mechanism 106 a-f. As shown inFIG. 2a, the transport mechanisms 106 a-f may be adapted to transportcurrency bills such that the longer edge of a currency bill 107 isperpendicular to the direction of transport. Stated differently, a longedge of the currency bill 107 is the leading edge. In other embodiments,the transport mechanisms 106 a-f may be adapted to transport currencybills such that a longer edge of the currency bill 107 is parallel tothe direction of transport, as shown in FIG. 2b. Stated another way, ashort edge of the currency bill is the leading edge. In someembodiments, one or more bills may be transported in a skewed manner.Examples of transport mechanisms are discussed in more detail in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,815,592 and 6,311,819, both of which are incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety. The transport orientation described inthis paragraph also applies to the other embodiments discussed belowsuch as those discussed in connection with FIGS. 3-11.

[0033] Returning to FIG. 1, a controller 108 controls the operation ofthe transport mechanisms 106 a-f as is further described below. Thecontroller 108 is also coupled to an image scanner 110 that is locatedalong the path of transport mechanisms 106 a-f, such that any billdispensed from any of the dispensers 102 a-f is transported past theimage scanner 10 on its way to the output receptacle 104. The imagescanner 110 is adapted to obtain images of the currency bills as thecurrency bills are transported past the image scanner 110 and to theoutput receptacle 104.

[0034] In an alternate embodiment, the image scanner may be replaced byone or more sensors adapted to retrieve information from passing billswhich permits the passing bills to be denominated such as sensor 126depicted in FIG. 6. Examples of denomination sensors or units arediscussed in more detail below such as in connection with FIGS. 4 and 6as well as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,295,196 and 5,687,963, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Similarly, in otheralternate embodiments, one or more denomination sensors may be added tothe system depicted in FIG. 1 in addition to the image scanner 110.

[0035] Further operation of the system 100 according to one embodimentof the present invention will now be described. An operator inputs awithdrawal request into the controller 108 such as via an operatorinterface 140. The controller 108 will receive the request and instructone or more of the transport mechanisms 106 a-f to begin transporting anappropriate number of currency bills from the appropriate dispensers 102a-f. The controller may require a transaction identification, or someother verification or tracking information, from the operator beforedispensing any currency. In a retail environment, the dispensers may becoupled to a cash register that calculates the amount of currency to bedispensed.

[0036] The transport mechanisms 106 a-f that are activated cause theappropriate dispensers 102 a-f to dispense the appropriate number ofcurrency bills. The currency bills are then transported, one at a time,past the image scanner 110 and to the output receptacle 104. Thedispensers can be activated one at a time so bills do not collide,overlap, etc.

[0037] When a currency bill is transported past the image scanner 110,the controller 108 instructs the image scanner 110 to obtain an image ofthe currency bill. The scanner 110 then transmits the image back to thecontroller 108 for processing. In some embodiments, the controller 108is adapted to use the image of the currency bill to denominate the bill.After being scanned, the currency bill is then transported by thetransport mechanism 106 a-f to the output receptacle 104, where thebills are accumulated and then removed by the operator.

[0038] To more clearly explain the operation, a specific example will bediscussed. An operator inputs a withdrawal request of $175 into thecontroller 108 via an operator interface 140. The controller 108activates the transport mechanisms 106 a-f that are associated with the$100 bills, $50 bills, $20 bills and $5 bills. In this example, thecontroller would activate transport mechanisms 106 b, 106 d, 106 e, and106 f. The activation of the transport mechanisms 106 b,d,e,f wouldcause the associated dispensers 102 b, 102 d, 102 e, and 102 f to eachdispense a currency bill. The transport mechanism only causes thedispenser to dispense the needed number of bills (in this example, onefrom each of the four dispensers 102 b, 102 d, 102 e, 102 f).

[0039] After a bill is transported out of the dispenser, the transportmechanisms 106 b, d, e, f will carry each bill, one by one, past theimage scanner 111 to the output receptacle 104 for disbursement to theoperator. The image scanner 110 is activated by the controller 108, andobtains images of the bills as they are transported past. The imagesobtained by the image scanner 110 are then sent to the controller 108for further processing. In some embodiments, the controller 108 maydiscriminate the bill based upon the image by comparing at least aportion of the image to master reference data stored in memory and, thuscan verify that the correct amount was dispensed to the operator.

[0040] The above-described embodiment is able to disburse bills withgreater speed an accuracy than when done manually. Although the operatormay manually count out the dispensed bills to the customer for furtherverification, the bills are dispensed quicker by the system 100 than ifthe operator had to pull the bills out of a cash drawer. Furthermore,the record of the disbursement is created electronically, within thecontroller, so the operator does not have to manually prepare a record,which also reduces the likelihood of error.

[0041] Some embodiment may include one or more additional outputreceptacles. For example, when it is determined that an incorrectdenomination of bills has been dispensed from one of the dispensingreceptacles 102 a-f (e.g., a $20 bill was incorrectly included in anddispensed from the $10 dispensing receptacle), such incorrect bill maybe routed to a different output receptacle (which may be an internalretaining receptacle) and another bill may be dispensed in its place.Bills which are determined to be suspect (discussed in more detailbelow) may be handled in a similar manner.

[0042] Turning now to FIG. 3, a document processing system 200 accordingto another embodiment is illustrated. In this embodiment, the documentprocessing system 200 includes a deposit device 210, a dispensing device220, and a processor 230. The dispensing device 220 may be the same asthe dispensing device 100 described above and processor 230 may be thesame as or in addition to controller 108. The deposit device 210receives documents such as financial institution documents and currencybills for deposit into a customer's account (or for payment of goodsand/or services). The dispensing device 220 dispenses currency bills tothe customer. The processor 230 controls the operation of the dispensingdevice 220 and/or the deposit device 210. The processor 230accepts-instructions from an employee and/or customer arid transmits theinstructions to the appropriate machine. Alternatively, the processor230 may be included in the dispensing device 220 (as described in theabove embodiment), the deposit device 210, or both.

[0043] The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 will now bedescribed by way of an example. An operator inputs a withdrawal requestand a deposit request into the processor 230 via an operator interface(not shown). The processor 230 activates the dispensing device 220 todispense an amount corresponding to the withdrawal request. Theprocessor 230 activates the deposit device 210 to accept documents thatmake up the deposit request.

[0044] The details of one embodiment of the deposit device 210 isdescribed below in connection with FIG. 4. According to someembodiments, the document processing system according to the presentembodiment allows an operator to both deposit and withdraw funds using asingle machine. In alternate embodiments, the deposit 210 and dispensingdevices 220 may be housed separately but connected to form a singlesystem. This dual functionality reduces the costs to the financialinstitutions as they only have to purchase one machine. Costs resultingfrom human error are reduced because the document processing system 200is quicker and more accurate. The operator does not have to manuallywithdraw funds from a drawer and then count the funds or manuallyseparate deposited documents into categories and then count and totalthe value of the documents.

[0045]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a deposit device 250. Thedeposit device 250 includes an input receptacle 252 and a storagereceptacle 254. The input receptacle 252 is adapted to receive currencybills for deposit into the device. A stack of currency bills placed inthe input receptacle 252 may be sorted by denomination, or the stack ofcurrency bills may be of mixed denominations. A transport mechanism 256transports bills from the input receptacle 252 to the storage receptacle254, one at a time, along a transport path. The transport mechanism 256may be adapted to transport the currency bills in the wide or the narrowdirection, as described above in FIGS. 2a and 2 b. The storagereceptacle 254 may comprise one or more output receptacles.

[0046] A processor or controller 258 controls the operation of themovement of the transport mechanism. When a currency bill or stack ofcurrency bills is placed into the input receptacle and a deposit requestis input into the controller 258, the controller 258 activates thetransport mechanism 256 to transport the currency bills, one at a time,from the input receptacle 252 and into the storage receptacle 312.

[0047] In the present embodiment, the controller 258 also controlsoperation of a denominating unit 260. The denominating unit 260 islocated along the transport path and is adapted to determine thedenominations of the currency bills as they are transported past thedenominating unit 260 by the transport mechanism.

[0048] The deposit device 250 thus may verify the amount of the depositrequest and to count the number of different denominations that arebeing transported to the storage device 254.

[0049] The denominating unit 260 may determine the denominations ofpassing bills itself and pass this information on to the controller 258or the denominating unit 260 may comprise one or more denominationsensors which retrieve characteristic information from passing bills andtransmit such characteristic information along to the processor orcontroller 258 which in turn determines the denominations of passingbills.

[0050] The denominating unit 260 may comprise one or more sensors,depending on a number of variables. The variables relate to whichdistinguishing characteristics of the currency bills are being examined,for example, size, thickness, color, magnetism, reflectivity,absorbability, transmissivity, electrical conductivity, serial number,and so forth. The denominating unit 260 may also employ a variety ofdetection components including, but not limited to, any combination ofthe following: a size detector, a density sensor, an upper optical scanhead, a lower optical scan head, a single or plurality of magneticsensors, a thread sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultraviolet/fluorescentlight scan head, or an image scanner. These detection components and ahost of others are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.6,278,795, entitled “Multi-Pocket Currency Discriminator,” which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/965,428, entitled “A Document ProcessingSystem Using Full Image Scanning,” filed on Sep. 27, 2001, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Examples ofdiscriminating denomination information from a currency bill are shownand disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,592, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Likewise, examples ofdenomination sensors or units are discussed in more detail in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,295,196 and 5,687,963, both of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

[0051] An example of the operation of the deposit device 250, in whichthe denominating unit 260 is a more general discrimination unit 260 willnow be described. An operator inputs a deposit request such as via anoperator interface 240 into the controller 256 of the deposit device250. The operator then inserts a stack of currency bills into the inputreceptacle 252 for deposit. Once the currency bills are placed in theinput receptacle 252, the controller 258 activates the transportmechanism to begin transporting the currency bills, one at a time, fromthe input receptacle 252, past the discrimination unit 260 and to thestorage receptacle 254. As the currency bill reaches the discriminationunit 260, the controller 258 activates the sensors within thediscrimination unit 260 so as to discriminate the currency bill. Thecurrency bill is then transported to the storage receptacle 254 forstorage.

[0052] After discriminating the currency bills, the discrimination unit260 communicates the denominations of the currency bills to thecontroller 258. The controller 258 may use the denomination informationto compare the amount denominated by the discrimination unit 260 withthe amount input during the deposit request. This is one method thatallows the teller to give the customer an accurate depositreceipt—decreasing the possibility of customer dissatisfaction. Thecontroller 258 may also use this denomination information to update afinancial account belonging to the person depositing the currency billsto reflect what the amount of the deposit was.

[0053] In some embodiments the denomination unit 260 is replaced with animage scanner as in FIG. 1. Alternatively, in some embodiment, an imagescanner may be added to the system 250 in addition to the denominationunit 260.

[0054] Image Scanner

[0055] Turning now to FIG. 5, an image scanner 300 will be describedaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. The image scanner300 may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,812, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As shown in FIG. 5,the front 302 and back 304 surfaces of documents 306 are scanned by apair of scanheads 308 and 310, that convert the images into electronicdata representing those images.

[0056] The scanheads 308 and 310 include electronic circuitry thatgenerates a sequence of analog signals representing light and darkimages defining the image on the document. The scanheads 308 and 310 maybe arranged for simultaneously scanning both the front 302 and back 304surfaces of the documents 306 and are connected respectively toanalog-to-digital converters 312 and 314 that convert the analog valuesinto discrete binary gray scale values of, for example, 256 gray scalelevels. The scanheads 308 and 310 are capable of obtaining images ofvarying resolutions. The particular resolution chosen, which can bevaried by the user, is selected based upon the type of document beingscanned, as is known in the art. A commercially available imagingscanhead for use with one embodiment of the present invention is thePI228MC-A4 Contact Image Sensor (CIS) Module made by Peripheral ImagingCorporation in San Jose, Calif., which contains a light source, focusingoptics, detector array and electronics for producing an analog outputcontaining 1728 pixels/line with a density of 200 pixels/inch.

[0057] The high resolution gray scale image data from theanalog-to-digital converters 312 and 314 is received by an image datapreprocessor 316 in which the data may be enhanced and smoothed andwhich serves to locate the edges of successive documents and discardirrelevant data between documents. If the documents are slightly skewed,the image preprocessor 316 can also perform rotation of the image datato facilitate subsequent processing.

[0058] The image data output of the preprocessor 316 is monitored forthe occurrence of unacceptable image quality by an image quality unit318. For example, the image quality unit 318 monitors the distributionof gray scale values in the image data and creates a histogram.Acceptable quality images have a distribution of gray scale valueswithin certain prescribed limits. If the gray scale distribution of thehistogram falls outside these limits, this is indicative of poor imagequality and an error condition is generated by the quality unit 318.

[0059] The image data is transmitted from the quality unit 318 to aprocessor 320 that outputs the processed image data to a buffer 322 atthe data input channel 324 to a controller 326. OCR and/or ICR can usethe image data to extract or capture specified information fromspecified fields of the image. For example, when processing checks, OCRcan detect the “$” symbol as a coordinate to the left of the numericcheck amount field box, and then extract the amount from that box. Astraight coordinate system or dimension system is used where knowndimensions of the box are used to locate the field. Also, when scanningcurrency, OCR can detect the field where the serial numbers are printedand extract those numbers.

[0060] When scanning bar-coded documents, the scanhead obtains an imageof the document, or just the bar-coded portion of the document, and thatimage is used to decipher the information from the bar code. Forexample, in some embodiments if a bar code is used to represent thevalue of the document (e.g., on a casino redemption ticket or a “DisneyDollar”), the scanhead obtains an image of the bar code and then usesthat image to read the bar code and determine the value of the document,rather than reading the bar code directly from the document. Computersoftware for decoding bar-coded information from an image of the barcode are commercially available, e.g., from VisionShape, Inc. ofPlacentia, Calif., or Kofax Image Products of Irvine, Calif. In otherembodiments, a bar code reader may read the bar code directly from adocument.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the controller 326 is programmed tolocate fields for various types of currency and perform processing.Based on scanning certain areas on the currency or document, thecontroller 326 first identifies the type of currency—for example,identifying the bills as being U.S. Bills. Then, based on thatidentification, certain fields of interest are located, and theinformation in those fields is extracted and stored for use by thesystem—for example, the serial number, series designation, and/ordenominational designations of U.S. Bills.

[0062] The controller 326 may also compress the image data, by methodsknown in the art, for storage or in preparation for transmission toanother location, such as an outside location. Programs for extractingand storing information from prescribed fields in a document image arecommercially available. For example, OCR and ICR engines for convertingpre-defined characters or data fields into editable text and mapping itdirectly into a database are available from Mitek Systems, Inc. in SanDiego, Calif. Check readers and OCR line readers are commerciallyavailable from a variety of sources. Programs for converting bitmapimages of handwritten numeric amounts (e.g., written on checks or otherdocuments) into computer-usable character data are available fromOrbograph Corporation in Billerica, Mass.

[0063] The amount of image data per document may vary depending upon thesize and nature of the document and the efficiency of any compression ofthe image data obtained by scanning that particular document. To ensurethat no data is lost in the event that the volume of image datatemporarily exceeds the transfer capacity of the high speed datachannel, a pre-channel buffer 322 is interposed prior to the datachannel 324, which is connected to the controller 326. The capacity ofthe pre-channel buffer 322 is continually monitored by the controller326 so that appropriate action may be taken if the buffer becomesoverloaded. The compressed image data is received by the controller 326over the high-speed data channel 324 and may be initially routed totemporary storage. The image buffer is preferably of a size capable ofstoring the image data from at least several batches or runs of checksor similar documents. The controller 326 performs the functions ofanalyzing the data. Alternatively, analysis of the data can occur atcentral office computer or at a personal computer attached to thesystem.

[0064] Other scanning modules and methods can be used in place of, or inaddition to, the particular one described above. These include CCD arraysystems, multi-cell arrays and other well-known scanning techniques.Examples of these techniques and devices are described in U.S. Pat. No.6,661,910; U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,164; U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,782; U.S. Pat.No. 5,237,158; U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,750; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,780,each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Thescanning module can also be a color image scanner such as the typedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,292, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

[0065] Discrimination and/or Authentication

[0066] An embodiment of the present invention having discriminationand/or authentication functionality will be described in connection withFIG. 6. This illustrated embodiment as well as others are described indetail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,354 and published PCT application WO95/24691, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a currencydenominating device 350 having a single scanhead 352. The unit 350includes a bill-accepting station 354 where a bill 356 in a stack, moregenerally stacks of bills 356 that need to be identified and counted arepicked up, one bill at a time, by a bill separating mechanism 358 forsequential relay by a transport mechanism 360 along a transport path,across a scanhead 352 where the currency denomination of the bill isidentified. The scanhead 352 is an optical scanhead that scans forcharacteristic information from a scanned bill 356 that is used toidentify the denomination of the bill. The scanned bill 356 is thentransported to a bill stacking station 362.

[0067] The optical scanhead 352 of FIG. 6 comprises a pair of lightsources 364A and 364B directing light onto the bill transport path so asto illuminate a substantially rectangular strip 366 on a bill 356positioned adjacent the scanhead 352. Light reflected off theilluminated strip 366 is sensed by a photodetector 368 positioneddirectly adjacent the strip. The analog output of the photodetector 368is converted into a digital signal by means of an analog-to-digital(ADC) converter 370 whose output is fed as a digital input to thecontroller 372.

[0068] While the scanhead 352 of FIG. 6 is an optical scanhead, it maybe designed to detect a variety of different types of characteristicinformation from bills. Additionally, the scanhead may employ a varietyof additional detection means such as magnetic, electrical conductivity,and capacitive sensors, as discussed in more detail below.

[0069] Referring again to FIG. 6, the bill transport path in thisembodiment is defined in such a way that the transport mechanism 360moves bills with the narrow dimension of the bills parallel to thetransport path and the scan direction. As a bill 356 traverses thescanhead 352, the light strip 366 traverses the bill across the narrowdimension of the bill. As depicted, the transport path is so arrangedthat a bill 356 is scanned by the scanhead 352 approximately along thecentral section of the bill along its narrow dimension, as shown in FIG.6. The scanhead 352 functions to detect light reflected from the bill asit moves across the illuminated light strip 366 and to provide an analogrepresentation of the variation in light so reflected which, in turn,represents the variation in the dark and light content of the printedpattern or indicia on the surface of the bill. This variation in lightreflected from the narrow dimension scanning of the bills serves as ameasure for distinguishing, with a high degree of confidence, amongmultiple currency denominations that the discrimination unit isprogrammed to handle.

[0070] A series of such detected reflectance signals are obtained acrossthe narrow dimension of the bill, or across a selected segment thereof,and the resulting analog signals are digitized under control of thecontroller 372 to yield a fixed number of digital reflectance datasamples. The data samples are then subjected to a normalizing routinethat processes the sampled data for improved correlation and forsmoothing out variations due to contrast fluctuations in the printedpattern on the bill surface. The normalized reflectance data representsa characteristic pattern that is unique for a given bill denominationand provides sufficient distinguishing features among characteristicpatterns for different currency denominations. This process is morefully explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,196 for a “Method and Apparatusfor Currency Discrimination and Counting,” which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

[0071] In order to ensure strict correspondence between reflectancesamples obtained by narrow-dimension scanning of successive bills, theinitiation of the reflectance sampling process is preferably controlledthrough the controller 372 by means of an optical encoder 374 which islinked to the bill transport mechanism 360 and precisely tracks thephysical movement of the bill 356 across the scanhead 352. Morespecifically, the optical encoder 374 is linked to the rotary motion ofthe drive motor which generates the movement imparted to the bill as itis relayed along the transport path. In addition, the mechanics of thefeed and transport mechanism (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,196 referred toabove) ensure that positive contact is maintained between the bill andthe transport path, particularly when the bill is being scanned by thescanhead 352. Under these conditions, the optical encoder 374 is capableof precisely tracking the movement of the bill 356 relative to the lightstrip 366 generated by the scanhead 352, by monitoring the rotary motionof the drive motor.

[0072] The output of the photodetector 368 is monitored by thecontroller 372 to initially detect the presence of the bill underneaththe scanhead 352 and, subsequently, to detect the starting point of theprinted pattern on the bill, as represented by the thin borderline 356Awhich typically encloses the printed indicia on bills. Once theborderline 356A has been detected, the optical encoder 374 is used tocontrol the timing and number of reflectance samples that are obtainedfrom the output of the photodetector 368 as the bill 356 moves acrossthe scanhead 352 and is scanned along its narrow dimension.

[0073] The use of the encoder 374 for controlling the sampling processrelative to the physical movement of a bill 356 across the scanhead 352is also advantageous in that the encoder 374 can be used to provide apredetermined delay following detection of the borderline prior toinitiation of sampling. The encoder delay can be adjusted in such a waythat the bill 356 is scanned only across those segments along its narrowdimension which contain the most distinguishable printed indiciarelative to the different currency denominations.

[0074] In the case of U.S. Currency, for instance, it has beendetermined that the central, approximately two-inch (5 cm) portion ofbills, as scanned across the central section of the narrow dimension ofthe bill, provides sufficient data for distinguishing among the variousU.S. Currency denominations on the basis of the correlation techniquedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,196 referred to above. Accordingly, theencoder 374 can be used to control the scanning process so thatreflectance samples are taken for a set period of time and only after acertain period of time has elapsed after detection of the borderline356A, thereby restricting the scanning to the desired central portion ofthe narrow dimension of the bill.

[0075] The controller 372 is programmed to count the number of billsbelonging to each currency denomination as part of a given batch ofbills that have been scanned, and to determine the aggregate total ofthe currency amount represented by the scanned bills in that batch. Thecontroller 372 is also linked to an EPROM 376 and an output unit 378which provides a display of the number of bills counted, the breakdownof the bills in terms of denomination, and the aggregate total of thecurrency value represented by the counted bills. The output unit 378 canalso be adapted to provide a print-out of the displayed information in adesired format.

[0076] The scanhead 352 may comprise multiple scanheads positioned nextto each other, or a single stationary scanhead extending across theentire width of the documents being scanned. In this case, the samescanhead may be used to generate the data needed to denominate bills andto display and store the images that appear on bills and other types ofdocuments. For example, the electronic data from a single scanhead maybe used to denominate bills, and to store images of bills, checks andother documents. Alternatively, the same data may be used to also storeimages of only the serial numbers of bills. One example of such afull-width imaging scanhead is the aforementioned PI228MC-A4 ContactImage Sensor (CIS) Module made by Peripheral Imaging Corporation in SanJose, Calif.

[0077] Two-sided scanning may be used to permit bills to be fed into acurrency discrimination unit with either side face up, and also topermit high-speed scanning of images on both sides of the documentsbeing scanned. Examples of two-sided scanhead arrangements are disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,406 and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,354, each of whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Master data such asmaster patterns generated by scanning genuine bills may be stored forsegments on one or both sides of bills of all denominations. In the casewhere master data or patterns are stored from the scanning of only oneside of a genuine bill, the data or patterns retrieved by scanning bothsides of a bill under test may be compared to a master set ofsingle-sided master data or patterns. In such a case, data or a patternretrieved from one side of a bill under test should match one of thestored master data or patterns, while data or a pattern retrieved fromthe other side of the bill under test should not match any of the masterdata or patterns. Alternatively, master data or patterns may be storedfor both sides of genuine bills. In such a two-sided system, data or apattern retrieved by scanning one side of a bill under test should matchone of the master data or patterns for one side (Match 1) of a genuinebill, and data or a pattern retrieved from scanning the opposite side ofthe bill under test should match one of the master data or patterns ofthe opposite side of a genuine bill (Match 2).

[0078] A counterfeit detection function may also be included in thedevice 350. A variety of different counterfeit detection techniques arewell known and have been incorporated in currency discriminators. Theseknown counterfeit detectors detect a variety of different types ofcharacteristic information from currency bills, and employ a variety ofdifferent detection components such as magnetic, optical of capacitivesensors. These include detection of patterns of changes in magnetic flux(U.S. Pat. No. 3,280,974), patterns of vertical grid lines in theportrait area of bills (U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,629), the presence of asecurity thread (U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,607), total amount of magnetizablematerial of a bill (U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,458), patterns from sensing thestrength of magnetic fields along a bill (U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,184), andother patterns and counts from scanning different portions of the billsuch as the area in which the denomination is written out (U.S. Pat. No.4,356,473).

[0079] With regard to optical sensing, a variety of currencycharacteristics can be measured such as density (U.S. Pat. No.4,381,447), color (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,490,846; 3,496,370; 3,480,785),length and thickness (U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,651), the presence of asecurity thread. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,607) and holes (U.S. Pat. No.4,381,447), and other patterns of reflectance and transmission (U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,496,370; 3,679,314; 3,870,629; 4,179,685). Color detectiontechniques may employ color filters, colored lamps, and/or dichroicbeamsplitters (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,841,358; 4,658,289; 4,716,456;4,825,246, 4,992,860 and EP 325,364). An optical sensing system usingultraviolet light is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,463, incorporatedherein by reference.

[0080] In addition to magnetic and optical sensing, other techniques ofdetecting characteristic information of currency include electricalconductivity sensing, capacitive sensing (U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,754(watermark, security thread); U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,899 (thickness); U.S.Pat. No. 3,815,021 (dielectric properties); U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,607(security thread), and mechanical sensing (U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,447(limpness); U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,651 (thickness).

[0081] A UV authenticating technique can be employed along with one ormore other authenticating and/or discrimination techniques inalternative embodiments of a denominating and/or imaging system. Forexample, an imaging system may include both a UV authenticating systemand a magnetic authenticating system. It is known that genuine U.S.Bills reflect a high level of UV light and do not fluoresce in responseto UV illumination, except in certain special cases described below. Anembodiment of the imaging system employing both UV and magneticauthentication would be able to detect a counterfeit U.S. Bill thatpasses the UV authentication test (e.g., reflects sufficient level of UVlight and does not fluoresce in response to UV illumination), but failsthe magnetic authentication test. Put another way, an embodiment of animaging system that implements a plurality of authentication tests isable to detect counterfeit bills that would otherwise go undetectedwhere only one authenticating test is employed. Further details of acurrency processing system employing UV, fluorescence and magneticauthentication tests are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,164,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0082] Security features added to U.S. Currency beginning with the 1996series $100 bills include the incorporation into the bills of securitythreads that fluoresce under ultraviolet light. For example, thesecurity threads in the 1996 series $100 bills emit a red glow whenilluminated by ultraviolet light. The color of light emitted by securitythreads under ultraviolet light will vary by denomination, e.g., withthe $100 bills emitting red light and the $50 bills emitting, blue orpurple light. Thus, the red light emitted from the security thread of a$100 bill, in response to UV illumination can be used to bothauthenticate and denominate that bill.

[0083] Additionally, the location of the thread within the bill can beused as a security feature. For example, the security threads in all$100 bills are located in the same position. Furthermore, the locationof the security threads in other denominations will be the same bydenomination and will vary among different denominations. For example,the location of security threads in $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills mayeach be distinct. In such a situation, the presence of a security threadin a specific location can be used to identify the denomination of thebills. Alternatively, the location may be the same in the $20s and the$100s but different from the location of the security threads in the$50s. According to alternative embodiments, the imaging processingsystem includes sensors to evaluate the features of security threads,including location, in currency bills. A currency processing system forevaluating the authenticity of currency bills based on the fluoresce ofsecurity threads under UV illumination and the location of the securitythreads within the bills is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,164 B1,which has been incorporated herein by reference.

[0084] Alternatively or additionally, sensors may be employed to detectbills or security threads printed or coated with thermochromic materials(materials that change color with a change in temperature). Examples ofthreads incorporating thermochromic materials are described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,465,301, incorporated herein by reference.

[0085] The issuance of an error code such as a no-call code (where thesystem is unable to denominate a bill) or a suspect code (suspectedcounterfeit document) may be used to suspend processing of a stack ofbills such that the bill triggering one of these codes is the last billdelivered to a receiving receptacle before the operation of the systemis suspended. Accordingly, the triggering bill may be examined by theoperator of the system so that appropriate action may be taken based onthe operator's evaluation of the triggering bill. Alternatively, in asystem having two or more receiving receptacles, the issuance of one ofthese error codes may cause the triggering bills to be diverted to adifferent receptacle such as a reject receptacle, or bills that resultin a no-call code may be diverted to one receptacle and those thatresult in a suspect code may be diverted to a different receptacle.Accepted bills may be routed to one or more other receptacles. When thecurrency bill that triggers a suspect code has been imaged, theelectronic data representing that image is preferably retained inassociation with an identification of the customer who deposited thatbill, so that the account of that customer can be debited in the eventthe bill is confirmed to be a counterfeit.

[0086] Turning now to FIG. 7, a sectional view of a compact documentprocessing system 405 according to principles of one embodiment isillustrated. The system 405 comprises an evaluation module 410 and adispensing module 420. The dispensing module 420 is responsive to a userinterface 430 coupled to both the evaluation module 410 and dispensingmodule 420. The document processing system 405 illustrated includes sixdispensing receptacles 440 a-f. The dispensing receptacles 440 a-f areeach adapted to hold a stack of currency bills. Each dispensingreceptacle 440 a-f holds one denomination of currency bill. For example,$1 bills may be stored in dispensing receptacle 440 a, $5 bills indispensing receptacle 440 b, $10 bills in dispensing receptacle 440 c,$20 bills in dispensing receptacle 440 d, $50 bills in dispensingreceptacle 440 e, and $100 bills in dispensing receptacle 440 f.Multiple receptacles may hold the same denomination where volume of usedictates.

[0087] In other embodiments, foreign currency bills may be stored in thevarious dispensing receptacles 440 a-f. The number of dispensingreceptacles 440 a-f may also be varied depending on the number ofdifferent denominations of currency bills to be dispensed.

[0088] From the dispensing receptacles 440 a-f, the currency bills aremoved in seriatim from bottoms of the stacks of bills by dispensingmechanisms to a guideway 442 that receives currency bills movingrearward and changes the direction of travel to a downward direction.Although shown as being fed from the bottom, the currency bills can befed from the top, front, or back of the stack, for example. The type offeeding used could be friction feed, vacuum feed, or any otherconventional method of feeding paper. An exit end of the curved guideway442 directs the currency bills onto a transport plate 444, which carriesthe currency bills through an evaluation section 445. In someembodiments the evaluation section comprises one or more denominationsensors adapted to retrieve characteristic information which may be usedto denominate passing currency bills such as those described. Above andin connection with U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,295,196; 5,687,963; 6,381,354 andpublished PCT application WO 95/24691, each of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. In other embodiments, theevaluation region additionally or alternatively comprises an imagescanner. In some embodiments the evaluation region may comprise one ormore authentication sensors or other sensors as discussed above and inconnection with FIG. 10 below.

[0089] Stacking of the currency bills, in one embodiment, may beaccomplished by driven stacker wheels 452, 454 associated with theoutput receptacles 450 a,b. The stacker wheels 452, 454 are supportedfor rotational movement about respective shafts 456 journalled on arigid frame and driven by a motor (not shown). Flexible blades of thestacker wheels 452, 454 deliver the currency bills onto a forward end ofa stacker plate 448.

[0090] The document processing system 405 illustrated in FIG. 7 is alsoable to receive documents for input. An input receptacle 540 is adaptedto receive documents, such as currency bills and/or checks, from a userto be deposited into the system 405. The input receptacle 540 may havesides 541 that adjust to accommodate a variety of sizes in checks and/orcurrency bills. For example, for some foreign currencies, such as theEuro, different denominations of currency bills have different sizes.Also, in the United States, currency bills are of a different size thanstandard checks. Thus, the input receptacle 540 in this embodiment hasadjustable sides 541 to accommodate these variances.

[0091] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the input receptacle 540may be adapted to receive only one type of document at a time. Forexample, an operator may stack the $20 bills in the input receptaclefirst, then after the process is complete, the operator may stack the$10 bills or checks. In some embodiments, the input receptacle may beadapted to receive a stack of mixed documents such as a mixture of U.S.Denominations or a mixture of U.S. Denominations and checks. In someembodiments the system may be adapted to sort documents by denominationand type such as for example in FIG. 7 U.S. Currency may be delivered tothe top output receptacle 450 a and checks may be delivered to thebottom receptacle 450 b. Alternatively, the system may be adapted todeliver “on-us” checks to the top receptacle 450 a and “transit” checksto the bottom receptacle. For example, if the compact documentprocessing system 405 is located at a bank teller station in Bank A,then deposited checks drawn on Bank A would be “on-us” checks whereaschecks drawn on another bank, such as Bank B, would be “transit” checks.

[0092] During operation, documents placed in input receptacle 540 aremoved in seriatim from the input receptacle 540 along a guideway 542which receives the deposited documents moving rearward and changes thedirection of travel to a downward direction. Although shown as be fedfrom the bottom, the deposited documents can be fed from the top, front,or back of the stack. The type of feeding used could be friction feed, avacuum feed, or any other method of feeding known to those skilled inthe art. An exit end of the curved guideway 542 directs the depositeddocuments onto the transport plate 444, which carries the depositeddocuments through the evaluation section 445 to one of two outputreceptacles 450 a,b. Stacking of the documents is accomplished asdescribed above.

[0093] Once the deposited documents are placed in the output receptacles450 a,b, the user may remove them and place them in an appropriatestorage receptacle (not shown). The storage receptacles may be dividedby document type (currency bills and checks). Currency bill storagereceptacles may be further subdivided by denomination and check storagereceptacles may be divided by on-us and transit checks. These storagereceptacles may be cash drawers, which are similar to those currentlyused by tellers. In some embodiments, the transport plate 444 may beconnected directly to the storage receptacles, allowing for automaticstorage of the deposited documents.

[0094] According to some embodiments, the document processing system 405is compact. For example, some embodiments have a height (H₁) less thanabout 40 inches, a depth (D₁) less than about 27 inches and a width (W₁)of less than about 17 inches. Alternatively, some embodiments have aheight (H₁) of between about 30 and 40 inches, a depth (D₁) of betweenabout 20 and 30 inches and a width (W₁) of between about 8 and 20inches. For example, some embodiments have a height (H₁) of about 35inches, a depth (D₁) of about 24 inches and a width (W₁) of about 10inches for embodiments adapted to process currency only and a width ofabout 12 to 14 inches for embodiments adapted to process commercialchecks. An embodiment adapted to process checks may also be adapted toprocess currency bills.

[0095] Some embodiments have a small footprint (depth×width). Forexample, some embodiments have a footprint of between about 160 and 600square inches (or about 1.1 square feet to about 4 square feet). Someembodiments have a footprint of less than 460 square inches (or lessthan about 3½ square feet). Some embodiments have a footprint of about240 square inches (or about 1.7 square feet) while others have afootprint of between about 288 to 336 square inches (or between about 2to 2½ square feet).

[0096] Some embodiments have a small volume. For example, someembodiments have a volume of between about 4800 and 24,000 cubic inches(or about 2¾ to 14 cubic feet). Some embodiments have a volume of lessthan 18,400 cubic inches (or less than about 11 cubic feet). Someembodiments have a volume of about 8520 cubic inches (or about 5 cubicfeet) while others have a volume of between about 10,000 to 12,000 cubicinches (or between about 5.9 to 6.9 cubic feet).

[0097]FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a document processing system405′ similar to the system 405 shown in FIG. 7. The system 405′comprises a housing 406 the evaluation module 410 and dispensing module420. The housing 406 may be adapted to restrict access to the dispensingreceptacles 440 (see, e.g., FIG. 11). In general, the system 405′ ofFIG. 8 is identical to system 405 of FIG. 7 except that the system 405′of FIG. 8 has one output receptacle while the system 405 of FIG. 7 hastwo output receptacles.

[0098] According to some embodiments, the document processing system405′ of FIG. 8 is compact. For example, some embodiments have a height(H₂) less than about 30 inches, a depth (D₂) less than about 20 inchesand a width (W₂) of less than about 17 inches. Alternatively, someembodiments have a height (H₂) of between about 25 and 40 inches, adepth (D₂) of between about 15 and 30 inches and a width (W₂) of betweenabout 8 and 20 inches. For example, some embodiments have a height (H₂)of about 29½ inches, a depth (D₂) of about 18½ inches and a width (W₂)of about 10 inches for embodiments adapted to process currency only anda width of about 12 to 14 inches for embodiments adapted to processcommercial checks. An embodiment adapted to process checks may also beadapted to process currency bills.

[0099] Some embodiments have a small footprint (depth×width). Forexample, some embodiments have a footprint of between about 120 and 600square inches (or about 0.8 square feet to about 4 square feet). Someembodiments have a footprint of less than 340 square inches (or lessthan about 2½ square feet). Some embodiments have a footprint of about185 square inches (or about 1.3 square feet) while others have afootprint of between about 222 to 259 square inches (or between about 1½to 2 square feet).

[0100] Some embodiments have a small volume. For example, someembodiments have a volume of between about 3000 and 24,000 cubic inches(or about 1¾ to 14 cubic feet). Some embodiments have a volume of lessthan 10,200 cubic inches (or less than about 6 cubic feet). Someembodiments have a volume of about 5460 cubic inches (or about 3 cubicfeet) while others have a volume of between about 6500 to 7600 cubicinches (or between about 3.7 to 4.4 cubic feet).

[0101] In the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8, each of thedispensing receptacles has approximately the same dimension, allowingeach of the dispensing receptacles 440 a-f to hold about 300 currencybills. In other embodiments, the dispensing receptacles 440 a-f may havedifferent dimensions, to allow the dispensing receptacle holding themost popular denomination bills (e.g., $10 and $20) to be larger, andthus, hold more of those currency bills.

[0102] A document processing system in accordance with applicant'steachings may comprise a single output receptacle (as illustrated, forexample in FIG. 8), two output receptacles (as illustrated, for examplein FIG. 7), or three or more output receptacles. Particular systems aredirected toward four and six output receptacle designs. The dispensingmodule may comprise one or more dispensing receptacles. Significantadvantages may be realized in using a modular system in accordance withsome embodiments of the invention. One such advantage, for both compactand floor-size embodiments, is that the dispensing module can be securedfrom ready access to reduce theft. Another advantage is that the system405 can be built up one dispensing receptacle 440 at a time. This buildup capability allows the financial institution to customize the systemand scale up or down the system as needed.

[0103]FIG. 11 illustrates a device in which is identical that that shownand described in connection with FIG. 8 but which additionally includesa barrier 1100 around the dispensing receptacles 440 a-440 f whichprohibits access to the currency residing in the dispensing receptacleswhile the barrier is in place. The barrier may be, for example, acabinet having doors which can be locked. For example, in a bankenvironment, a manager may be provided a key to the cabinet while banktellers may not. The barrier thus provides an added means of securityand protection of the integrity of the stacks of currency bills residingin the dispensing receptacles. When a barrier is not in place thedispensing receptacles and the contents of the dispensing receptaclesare externally accessible to the user of the device. Such a barrier maybe added to the other embodiments described in this application such asdescribed in connection with FIG. 7 and the dispensing only embodimentsas discussed below.

[0104] Alternate embodiments include embodiments similar to thosedepicted and described about in connection with FIGS. 7, 8 and 11 butwhich omit the input receptacles 540 thus changing the deposit anddispensing devices described in conjunction with FIGS. 7, 8 and 11 intosolely dispensing devices.

[0105] Alternate embodiments include embodiments similar to thosedepicted and described about in connection with FIGS. 7, 8 and 11 but inwhich the dispensing receptacles 440 a-440 f are arranged horizontallybehind the evaluation module 410.

[0106] Alternate embodiments include embodiments similar to thosedepicted and described about in connection with FIGS. 7, 8 and 11 butwhich additionally contain changeable displays adjacent each dispensingreceptacle and wherein the devices 405, 405′ are adapted to display thedenomination of bills contained in each dispensing receptacle. Forexample, if $1 bills are located in dispensing receptacle 440 a and $5bills are located in dispensing receptacle 440 b, a display adjacentdispensing receptacle 440 a may read “$1” while a display adjacentdispensing receptacle 440 b may display “$5”. Such an arrangement may beparticularly useful when bills of multiple countries are containedwithin the dispensing receptacles, e.g., “$20” for receptacle 440 a and“10,000” for receptacle 440 b.

[0107] In some embodiments, the evaluation region 445 in FIGS. 7, 8, and111 does not include an image scanner but rather include sensors adaptedto permit the denomination of passing bills to be determined withoutemploying an image scanner. In such embodiments, the evaluation units410 in FIGS. 7, 8, and 11 may operate as one or more of the embodimentsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,295,196; 6,311,819; 5,687,963; 6,381,354and 6,256,407 and published PCT applications WO 95/24691 and WO99/48042, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. In such embodiments, when bills are to be dispensed, theamount of the currency to be dispensed may be inputted via interface430, the appropriate number of bills whom the dispensing receptacles 440a-f may be transported past the evaluation region 445 and to the one ormore output receptacles. As the bills are passed through the evaluationregion characteristic information from each bill is obtained and used todenominate the bills. A bank teller, for example, may then take thebills from the one or more output receptacles and provide them to acustomer requesting the withdrawal.

[0108] As described below in conjunction with FIG. 9, the unit 405, 405′may be coupled to a printer or other device to generate a cash-outticket or cash-out information. Such an automatic generation of acash-out ticket can save time and as in balancing a teller's orcashier's drawer at the end of the day or shift. For example, at thebeginning of each shift, a unit 405, 405′ having a predetermined amountof currency in the dispensing receptacles 440 may be assigned to a giventeller. During the teller's shift, the teller provides cash to customersas a result of withdrawal requests. As the result of each dispensingoperation, a cash-out ticket is generated either electronically orphysically (e.g., printout). At the end of the shift, the amount ofcurrency left in the dispensing receptacles should equal the beginningamount less the total amount dispensed. According to some embodiments,the units 405, 405′ may be operated in a clearing or end of shift modewherein all currency remaining in the dispensing receptacles isdispensed from the dispensing receptacles and into one or more of theassociated output receptacles and counted and totaled by the units 405,405′. The clearing total and then be reconciled with the initial totaland the total amount of previously dispensed money. Where the cash-outtickets or amounts are stored electronically, such as in a memory, theunits 405, 405′ may perform the reconciliation automatically.

[0109] As an example, say the initial balance of currency in thedispensing receptacles 440 a-f at the beginning of a teller's shift is$21,800 (e.g., made of 300 notes of $1 bills in one dispensingreceptacle, 300 notes of $5 bills in another dispensing receptacle, 300$10 bills in another dispensing receptacle, 600 $20 bills in two of thedispensing receptacles, and 100 $50 bills in another dispensingreceptacle). During the teller's shift, the teller operates the unitduring 50 dispensing transaction during which $16,555 are dispensed.Accordingly, at the end of the shift it expected that $5,245 remains inthe dispensing receptacles. Using the clearing mode, all remaining billsare dispensed. If they total $5245 (as may be indicated via interface430), the teller is in balance and the reconciliation process iscomplete. Where cash out tickets are electronically maintained (eitherindividually and/or as a running total), the unit 405,405′ mayautomatically indicate a correct reconciliation. Of course, processorsand/or memories external to the units 405, 405′ ma be used (e.g., wherethe units 405, 405′ are coupled to an external computer system) and theexternal processors and/or memories may receive cash-out information(and/or cash-in information as discussed below) and/or perform thereconciliation process.

[0110] When a customer provides a teller with a stack of currency to bedeposited, the teller may insert the stack in the input receptacle 540and the unit 405, 405′ transports the bills past the evaluation regionto one or more of the output receptacles. The total amount of thedeposited currency (and/or a breakdown of the number and/or value ofbills of each denomination) is calculated by the unit 405, 405′. Theunit may then generate a cash-in ticket or information as discussed inmore detail below, e.g., in connection with FIG. 10. The cash-in ticketor information may be generated in electronic and/or physical form suchas a printed cash-in ticket.

[0111] In some embodiments, the teller may then store the depositedcurrency in his or her cash drawer until the end of his or her shift.The reconciliation process described above may also include areconciliation of the amount of money expected to be in the teller'sdrawer. For example, separately or in connection with the reconciliationprocess discussed above, the unit 405. 405′ may be place into a depositreconciliation mode during which the teller may remove all the currencybills from his or her cash drawer and insert them into the inputreceptacle 540. The units 405, 405′ then process the bills and total theamount of currency bills inserted into the input receptacle 540. If thetotal amount equals the expected amount (based on the cash-in tickets orinformation accumulated during the teller's shift, then the teller'scash drawer is in balance. Such procedures help expedite thereconciliation process conducted at the end of each teller and cashiershift. Similar processes can be performed at the beginning of eachshift.

[0112] In some embodiments, the evaluation region 445 in FIGS. 7, 8, and11 comprises an image scanner. In such embodiments, the evaluation units410 in FIGS. 7, 8, and 11 may operate as one or more of the embodimentsdescribed in U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/350,588 filedJan. 22, 2002 and corresponding U.S. application Ser. No. 10/348,819filed Jan. 22, 2003 and entitled “Financial Institution System.” each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Accordinglyto some embodiments containing such an image scanner, the image ofevery. Document of a deposit transaction-maybe image and that image maybe stored for subsequent retrieval and recreation (e.g., the image apreviously deposited currency bill or check may be recreated andprintout out of a customer's statement). Likewise, as discussed in moredetail in the above mentioned applications, information may be extractedfrom various fields on deposited documents (e.g., a currency billsserial number, the amount of a check) and that information tagged to theimage of the document. Likewise, information associated with the persondepositing the documents (e.g., the account number associated with adeposit transaction) may be tagged to the image file and/or otherwisemaintained. The image and/or the extracted information may beelectronically stored in such a manner that it can be subsequentlysearched and retrieved. For example, if a bank later learns that a billthat it has received was counterfeit (e.g., by notification from theFederal Reserve), the bank can search its database for currency billshaving the serial number on the discovered counterfeit bill. When amatch is found, by cross-referencing the serial number to the person oraccount which deposited the bill, the person or account who depositedthe bill can be identified and the bank can then charge the amount ofthe counterfeit bill back to the person or account associated with thedeposit transaction.

[0113] In embodiments wherein every deposited document is imaged andthat image is stored for subsequent retrieval, a customer making adeposit may be provided (electronically and/or physically) with an imageof every document deposited. This can enhance customer satisfaction andassist if any dispute about a deposit subsequently arise. In someembodiments, the documents inputted into the input receptacle 540 fromdeposit and imaging may include a deposit slip, checks, and currencybills.

[0114] In other embodiments, only some deposited documents are imagedand/or the image of the some of the deposited documents are stored forsubsequent retrieval. For example, in some embodiments, the image ofevery check deposited is stored while the images of currency bills arenot.

[0115] In some embodiments of FIGS. 7, 8, and/or 11 employing an imagescanner, some or all of the currency bills dispensed during a dispensingtransaction may additionally or alternatively be imaged. For example,bills identified as suspect or no call could be imaged while others arenot.

[0116] In some alternative embodiments of a document deposit device,such as embodiments similar to those discussed in. Connection with FIGS.7, 8, and 11, the device comprises both one or more denominating sensors(e.g., denominational determination as described above in connectionwith FIG. 6) for denominating deposited currency bills and an imagescanner for imaging deposited checks. The images of checks may be eitherhanded off for downstream processing (e.g., OCR) or processed on-boardthe document deposit device in which case images and/or extractedalpha-numeric data may be transmitted from the device to one or moreother computer systems.

[0117] According to some embodiments, the document processing device(deposit and/or dispensing device) operates at at least 800 documentsper minute. In other embodiment, the document processing device operatesat about 1500 documents per minute. For example, devices such as thosediscussed in connection with FIGS. 7, 8, and 11 and which denominatecurrency but not an image documents operate at 800 to 1500 bills perminute. Alternatively, in some embodiments of devices such as thosediscussed in connection with FIGS. 7, 8, and 11 and which imagedocuments, operate at 400 to 600 documents per minute.

[0118] Alternatively, in some embodiments of devices such as thosediscussed in connection with FIGS. 7, 8, and 11 and which include bothone or more denominational sensors and one or more image scanners andwhich simply denominate but do not image currency bills and which imagenon-currency bills (e.g., checks), such devices may operate at one thanone speed, for example, one speed when currency denomination is beingperformed (e.g., a first speed of 800 to 1500 documents per minute) andat a second slower speed when document imaging is being performed (e.g.,a second speed of 400 to 600 documents per minute). In some suchembodiments, when a currency bill is determined to be a suspect it isalso imaged and the transport mechanism is reduced from the firsttransport speed used to transport the bill past one or moreauthentication sensors to the second slower transport speed so as toroute the suspect document past a downstream image scanner at the secondtransport speed so that it may be imaged Alternatively, when a bill isidentified as being suspect while operating at the first speed, thedevice may prompt the operator to insert the bill into input receptacle540 and the device may subsequently process the suspect bill in a secondpass at the second speed wherein the bill is imaged during the secondpass.

[0119] Turning now to FIG. 9, a block diagram of one embodiment of acurrency bill dispensing device 500 is shown. The currency billdispensing device 500 includes dispensing receptacles 502 a-f. Asdiscussed above in reference to FIG. 1, the dispensing receptacles 502a-f hold currency bills for disbursement to an operator. In theillustrated embodiment, there are six dispensing receptacles 502 a-f. Insome embodiments, each dispensing bin may include different countries'currencies. This would be especially useful for banks and/or otherlocations that often exchange foreign currency. For example, the firstdispensing bin 502 a may hold British pounds, the second dispensing bin502 b may hold French Francs, etc. The dispensing receptacles 502 a-fare connected to the output receptacles 504 a,b via a transportmechanism 506 a-f.

[0120] A processor or controller 508 is operatively coupled to thedispensing receptacles 502 a-f and transport mechanism 506 a-f forcontrolling the operation of the device 500. The controller 508 operatesin the same manner as described above in reference to FIG. 1.

[0121] Also connected to the controller 508 is a counter 510. Thecounter 510 counts the number and denominations of the currency billsbeing dispensed from the dispensing receptacles 502 a-f. The counter 510communicates with the controller 508 to inform the controller 508 thatthe correct number of currency bills are dispensed. Also, the counter510 may be used in some embodiments to keep a running total of thenumber of currency bills dispensed from each dispensing receptacle 502a-f over the course of a particular period of time. In theseembodiments, the operator can be notified when the dispensingreceptacles 502 a-f are low on currency bills or are empty.

[0122] A sensor 512 is placed along the path the currency bills aretransported, between the dispensing receptacles 502 a-f and the outputreceptacles 504 a,b. The sensor 512 may be any variety of sensor (e.g.,optical, magnetic, etc.) and may comprise one or more sensors. Thesensor 512 may be used to denominate and/or authentic currency and/ormay comprise an image scanner to image documents. As discussed above, avariety of characteristics may be detected from documents such as size.Or thread detection. In some embodiments, the sensor 512 is adenominating sensor similar to that discussed above, for example, inconnection with FIG. 6. In others, the sensor 512 is an image sensorsimilar to that discussed above, for example, in connection with FIG. 5.In some embodiments, sensor 512 may comprise both a denominating sensorand an image scanner as discussed above.

[0123] One or more sensors may also be included to authenticate currencybills being dispensed to the customer. In other embodiments, one or moresensors may be included to ensure that doubles, or bills stacked on topof one another, are not dispensed to the customer or that they arecorrectly counted. The sensor 512 may be used as a denominator to ensurethat the correct denomination of currency bills is being dispensed. Ifthe sensor 512 is an image scanner, then, in some embodiments, thesensor 512 operates in the same manner as the image scanner described inFIG. 1.

[0124] The sensor 512 may also be connected to the counter 510 andupdate the counter 510. For example, if the sensor 512 indicates thatthe last currency bill that was sensed was really two documents (e.g.,doubles), the sensor 512 can update the counter 510 to reflect that twodocuments were dispensed instead of one. This way, the counter 510 cankeep an accurate track of all of the bills dispensed, even if doublesare dispensed. This saves time, since the operator does not have to stopthe device if doubles are sensed or rerun the request. The device willautomatically update itself and continue processing bills.

[0125] Also included in this embodiment are display screens 514 a, 514 band an entry apparatus 516. The entry apparatus 516 allows the operatorto enter instructions (such as a withdrawal request, including amountand/or type) into the dispensing device 500. The entry apparatus 516 maybe any one or more of a keypad, a keyboard, denomination keys, touchscreen, and/or any other entry device. The display screens 514 a, 514 ballow both an employee and a customer to view the entered instructionsand any feedback from the controller 508. For example, the operator mayinput a withdrawal request for $100 and the display screen may ask forverification of the amount or in what denominations the operator wouldlike the amount disbursed.

[0126] The display screens 514 a, 514 b may also be used to view imagesof the dispensed currency bills. If the sensor 512 is an image scanner,and for some reason, the controller 508 is unable to read an image of aparticular currency bill, the image scanner may flag that bill as a nocall bill. The display screens 514 a, 514 b may display the image of ano call bill and provide the operator the opportunity identify and enterthe denomination of the currency bill. The operator can then use theentry apparatus 516 to enter in missing information or information thatcould not be read by the device.

[0127] The device of FIG. 9 may also include a receipt component 518and/or a cash out component 520. The receipt component 518 provides theoperator and/or customer with a receipt of the transaction. The receiptcomponent 518 may be a printer that prints a receipt for the customer.The receipt may include only a summary of the transaction, such as theamount withdrawn and the current balance in the relevant account.Alternatively, the receipt may also include copies of images of thewithdrawn currency bills and/or a break down of how many of eachdenomination of currency bill was withdrawn. In alternative embodiments,the receipt component 518 may be a disk, a CD-ROM, tape, or other memorystorage device that obtains an electronic copy of the receipt and storesit for the operator. The receipt may also be e-mailed to the customer ordownloaded onto a handheld device. Download to the handheld can be basedon a standard, for a example an InfraRed Data Association standard.

[0128] The cash out component 520 of this embodiment of the presentinvention is designed to create cash out tickets. Cash out tickets areoften used by operators such as tellers to balance their cash drawers atthe end of the day. The teller, for example, generates this ticket withevery transaction to indicate that funds were removed. The cash outtickets generally act as a receipt for the employee at the end of theday or when the system needs to be balanced. Currently, most ticketsmust be manually produced by the employee of the bank. The employee handwrites or types the amount of money disbursed from the system. All thecash out tickets are totaled at predetermined periods, such as at theend of a shift or work day, and compared against the amount actuallydisbursed from the system.

[0129] The cash tickets can be automatically created by the systemprinted and/or downloaded for later use, in for example an automatedprocessing method. The cash out tickets could be printed, and thedispenser could be. Manually balanced as in prior systems, or the cashout tickets could be downloaded and could automatically balance thecurrency bills in the dispenser at predetermined times. This saves timefor the employee, usually a teller, allowing for quicker balancing ofthe device. Also, errors are reduced since the device automaticallyproduces the record reducing the likelihood of a mathematical ortranscribing error from occurring.

[0130] Also operatively coupled to the controller 508 is a memory 522.The memory 522 may be adapted to store information from the counter 510,the sensor 512, and/or the cash out component 520. The memory 522 maystore the information from the counter 510 regarding how many of eachdenomination has disbursed. Additionally, the memory 522 may also storemaster denominating and authenticating information, against whichinformation obtained from processed bills (e.g., images, scans,magnetic, etc.) is compared. The memory 522 may also store how many ofeach denomination were initially input into the dispensing receptacles502 a-f. This information may be used by the controller 508 to informthe operator when any of the dispensing receptacles are empty or nearlyempty. The information output by the cash out means 520 may also bestored in the memory for later downloading and/or reviewing by theoperator.

[0131] An example of the operation of the dispensing device 500 of FIG.9 will now be described. First, an operator, such as a customer or anemployee, inputs a withdrawal request into the device 500 via the entrymeans. The withdrawal request may include a withdrawal amount and anaccount to be debited for the funds about to be dispensed. Thewithdrawal request may also include a PIN or other security access code.If the operator would like specific denominations or combinations ofdenominations withdrawn, the withdrawal request would also include thisinformation.

[0132] The entry means communicates the withdrawal request to thecontroller 508 for processing. The controller 508 may be communicativelycoupled to an outside accounting system (not shown) and communicateswith the outside accounting system to verify the details of thewithdrawal request. For example, the outside accounting system mayverify that the PIN corresponds to the account number entered. Also, theoutside accounting system may verify that there are sufficient funds tocover the withdrawal amount in the designated account. Once these havebeen verified, the outside accounting system will provide approval tothe controller 508 to proceed with the operation.

[0133] The controller 508 then transmits an instruction to theappropriate dispensing receptacles 502 a-f to begin dispensing currencybills onto the transport mechanism 506 a-f. The transport mechanism 506a-f will begin moving, carrying the currency bills, one at a time, fromthe dispensing receptacles 502 a-f, past the sensor 512 and the counter510. When a currency bill is being transported past the sensor 512, thesensor 512 retrieves characteristic information from passing bills andsends a corresponding characteristic information signal to thecontroller 508. The processor or controller 508 may then use thecharacteristic information signal to discriminate the denominationand/or authenticity of bills being dispensed by at least one of themethods described above. If the device 500 cannot discriminate acurrency bill, the currency bill is flagged.

[0134] In some embodiments, when currency bills are flagged as being “nocall” bills, they are transported to the second output receptacle 504 b.This way, the bills that are unable to be discriminated are keptseparate and the controller instead causes other bills to be dispensedto the operator for disbursement to the customer or person making thewithdrawal request, e.g., denominated bills are routed to the firstoutput receptacle 504 a. The controller 508 can then accurately dispensethe correct number of bills. In other embodiments, if a no call bill isdiscovered, the system may halt, leaving the no call bill at apredetermined location for removal and inspection by the operator.

[0135] In addition to being discriminated by the sensor 512, thecurrency bills are also transported past the counter 510. The counter510 is in communication with the controller 508 and may receiveinstructions from the controller 508 as to when to begin counting bills.The counter 510 uses a sensor of its own and the information from thesensor 512 to count the currency bills that are transported past. Thecounter 510 provides the controller 508 with a total number of billsdispensed to the user, the total number of bills dispensed of eachdenomination, the total number of no call bills, and the dollar amountof the bills dispensed. This information is useful to confirm the amountthat was dispensed and also to keep track of how many bills weredispensed from each dispenser 502 a-f, so as to info m an operator whenany of the dispensers 502 a-f need refilling. In some embodiments thefunctions of the counter 510 can be performed by the one or more sensors512 and hence the separate counter 510 may be omitted.

[0136] According to some embodiments, the controller 508 may transmit atleast the amount actually disbursed to the customer to the outsideaccounting system. The outside accounting system then updates theappropriate account such as by debiting the account of the customer towhom bills are dispensed. The controller 508 also transmits the totalamount disbursed to the cash out component 520 and the receipt component518. The cash out component 520 uses the total to create an internalreceipt for the controller 508. As discussed above, the cash outcomponent 520 may create either a paper or electronic cash out ticketthat enables the dispensing device 500 to balance itself at the end of apredetermined period of time.

[0137] The receipt component 518 may create an external receipt for thecustomer. The receipt component 518 may take the information from thecontroller and prepare a receipt for the customer to take away with themas confirmation of the transaction. As stated above, the receipt means518 may create the receipt in a paper and/or an electronic format.

[0138] In some embodiments, the dispensing device 500 is linked to adeposit device. In FIG. 10, one embodiment of a deposit device 600according to such an embodiment is shown. The deposit device 600includes an input receptacle 602, a transport mechanism 604, and aplurality of storage receptacles 606 a-c. The input receptacle 602receives a stack of documents—e.g. currency bills, checks, and/or otherdocuments. The documents may be sorted by type (currency bills first,then checks), or the documents may be mixed. The transport mechanism 604transports the documents, one at a time, along a transport path, fromthe input receptacle 602 to one of the storage receptacles 606 a-c.

[0139] Connected to the transport mechanism 604 is a processor orcontroller 608. The controller 608 acts similarly to the controllerdescribed in FIGS. 1 and 9. Namely, the controller 608 is used to directthe movement of the documents from the input receptacle 602 to thestorage receptacles 606 a-c.

[0140] The controller 608 is also connected to a sensing device 610. Thesensing device 610 is used to identify the types of documents beinginput into the deposit device 600. In the illustrated embodiment, thesensing device 610 includes four different detection devices an imagescanner 610 a; a sensor 610 b; a denominator 610 c; and an authenticator610 d. The image scanner 610 a obtains images of the documents andidentifies the documents based on these images. For example, as adocument passes by the image scanner 610 a on the transport mechanism604, the controller 608 communicates with the image scanner 610 a, andinstructs the image scanner 610 a to obtain an image of the document.The image may be stored for later use, such as in a statement verifyingthat the document was deposited. The image may be used to determine thetype of the document being deposited. Likewise the image may be used todenominate or obtain the value of the document, or for other reasons.

[0141] Also included in this embodiment is a sensor 610 b. The sensor610 b may be used to measure the width or size of an item deposited,and/or otherwise determine the type of document that is being deposited.A denominator 610 c is also included to denominate currency bills thatare deposited into the input receptacle 602. The denominator 610 c mayuse magnetic tests, optical imaging, UV imaging, infrared imaging,thread tests, or other known denomination techniques to denominate thedeposited currency bills.

[0142] The authenticator 610 d is used to confirm the authenticity ofthe document. When authenticating currency bills, the authenticator mayuse many of the same tests as mentioned above in the denominators 610 c.Alternatively, the authenticator 610 d may use pattern detectors todetect the pattern of the bill and compare the detected pattern to astored pattern for authenticity. For other types of bills, otherauthenticating techniques—MICR line reading, testing for waterspots—maybe used in addition to the tests described above.

[0143] The depositing device 600 includes display panels 612 a, 612 band an entry means 614. The display panels 612 a, 612 b, and the entrymeans 614 are similar and are used in a similar fashion as the displaypanels 518 a, 518 b, and entry apparatus 520 described in reference toFIG. 9. As discussed above, the entry means 614 may be any combinationof a keypad, keyboard, denomination keys, touch screen, and/or any otherknown information entry devices.

[0144] A memory 616 is also included in the depositing device 600 and isin communication with the sensing device 610. The sensing device 610obtains images or information from the documents being input into thedepositing device 600 and then may transmit the information to thememory 616 for storage; The memory 616 may be used to store informationregarding counterfeit documents. For example, it is not uncommon formany counterfeit currency bills to have the same serial number. Thememory 616 may be used to store lists of serial numbers associated withcounterfeit bills. The controller 608 is then used to compare the serialnumbers stored in the memory 616 with a serial number extracted from theinput currency bill. The memory 616 may also be used to store otherinformation useful in detecting counterfeits such as images of genuinebills for comparison with deposited documents.

[0145] Also the controller 608 may also be coupled to a cash incomponent 618 and a receipt component 620. The receipt component 620 mayoperate in the same way as the receipt component of FIG. 9. The cash incomponent 618 operates under the same principles as the cash out meansof FIG. 9, but instead records information about documents that aredeposited into the device instead of currency bills that are dispensed.

[0146] A counter 622 may also be connected to the controller. Thecounter 622 may count the number and denominations of the currency billsbeing transported by the transport mechanism 604. The counter 622communicates with the controller 608 to verify number of currency billsbeing accepted. Also, the counter 622 may be used in some embodiments tokeep a running total of the number of currency bills being transportedinto each of the storage receptacles 606 a-c. In these embodiments, theoperator can then be notified when the storage receptacles 606 a-c arefull or nearly full and need to be emptied.

[0147] Now, an example of the operation of the deposit device 600 willbe described. First, the operator who in some embodiments may be acustomer or an employee inputs a deposit request via the entry means614. The deposit request may include a deposit amount, the account to becredited with the deposit, and possibly a PIN or other security accesscode. A security access code is useful in ATM applications, unattendedapplications as well as attended applications. The security access codemay be used to provide a convenient method of transaction trackingrather than, or in addition to, restricting access to currency. Also,the deposit request may include a breakdown of the deposit, such as howmuch being deposited is cash and how much is in the form of checks.

[0148] The deposit request is transmitted to the controller 608. In someembodiments, the controller 608 may be coupled to an outside accountingsystem (not shown) and the controller may communicate with the outsideaccounting system in order to obtain verification the details of thedeposit request. The outside accounting system may verify that theaccount number is valid and if a PIN is; given, that the PIN relates tothe account number provided.

[0149] Once the information is verified, the controller sends a signalto the transport mechanism 604 to begin operation. The transportmechanism 604 begins moving, causing the documents stacked in the inputreceptacle 602 to move into the deposit device 600.

[0150] As the transport mechanism 604 transports the documents from theinput receptacle to the storage receptacles 606 a-c, the documents passby the four different evaluating means described above. First, thedocuments are transported, one by one, past the image scanner 610 a. Insome embodiments, the image scanner 610 a may receive an instructionfrom the controller when the document is being transported by to obtaina image of the document. The image of the document may then be stored inthe memory 616.

[0151] The documents are then transported, one at a time, past a sensor610 b. The sensor 610 b is also operated by the controller and may be ofa variety of types. The sensor 610 b may be a size sensor, and thus usedto determine the type of document being deposited. For example, U.S.Currency bills are of a different size than standard U.S. Checks. A sizesensor may be able to tell the type of document, at least preliminarily,merely by being able to measure its size. Furthermore, in many foreigncountries, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, the currency billsvary in size depending on the denomination. A size sensor used inconjunction with such foreign currency bills may also operate as adenomination discriminator, distinguishing between differentdenominations of bills. The information from the sensor 610 b is alsotransmitted to the memory 616 and/or controller 608 for storage andlater use.

[0152] After being transported past the sensor 610 b, the document isthen transported past the denominator 610 c. The denominator 610 b isalso connected to the controller 608 and may receive instructions as towhen it should begin operation. In some embodiments, the controller 608will only instruct the denominator 610 c to operate when currency billsare being transported past—since the denominator 610 c is unable todenominate checks. Because the document has already passed by the imagescanner 610 a and the sensor 610 b, the type of document is alreadyknown. Thus, the controller 608 may only instruct the denominator 610 cto retrieve characteristic information as a currency bill is about topass by the denominator 610 c. Denominating the currency bills may beused to verify the amount of currency that is actually deposited, incomparison to the amount that may have been declared (via the entrymeans 614) to be deposited. The denominator 610 c may use any means todenominate bills such as those discussed above, e.g., magnetic tests,optical detection, UV imaging, infrared imaging, thread tests, or othercommonly known denomination techniques to denominate the depositedcurrency bills. If, for whatever reason—tears, doubles, no call,suspect—the currency bill cannot be deposited, the currency bill isflagged. In one embodiment, the transport mechanism 604 will ceaseoperating, causing the flagged bill to stop in a predetermined location.The operator may then remove the flagged bill and examine the bill todetermine what the denomination is and whether to accept the bill. Inother embodiments, the flagged bill is transported to a particular oneof the storage receptacles 606 a that is designed specifically toreceive flagged documents.

[0153] The document is then transported past an authenticator 610 d. Theauthenticator 610 d is also in communication with the controller 608,and may receive instructions from the controller 608 as to when to beginoperation. According to one embodiment, the authenticator 610 d is usedwith all types of documents. For example, the authenticator 610 dreceives information from the controller 608 indicating what type ofdocument it is looking for (i.e. a check or a specific denomination ofcurrency bill). The authenticator 610 d then uses that information todetermine what type(s) of tests should be performed on the passingdocument to determine the documents authenticity. For example, if thedocument being passed is a check, the authenticator would use a MICRreader to read the MICR line. If the MICR line is absent or incorrectlycoded, then the check would be deemed a fake and labeled as a flaggeddocument. As in the flagged documents described above, the transportmechanism 604 may cease operation and allow the operator to pull thecheck out of a specific location, or the flagged check may betransported to one of the storage receptacles 606 a-c as describedabove. The MICR-failed check can then be read by a human to determinethe correct information. If the check passes the authentication test, itis then transported to the storage receptacle 606 b for storage.

[0154] If the document is a currency bill, the authenticator 610 d mayuse any variety of sensors or techniques to authenticate the bill asdiscussed above. If a bill fails an authentication test, the currencybill is a suspect bill, and may be treated as the flagged documentsdescribed above.

[0155] After all of the documents have been evaluated by the variousevaluation means and sorted into the different storage receptacles 606a-c, where appropriate, the controller 608 may transmit the informationreceived from the evaluation means to the outside accounting system,cash in means 618, and receipt means 620. The controller 608 receivesinformation pertaining to the number of documents deposited, the totalamount of the documents deposited, the number and denomination ofcurrency bills deposited, the number and value of checks deposited, thenumber of no call bills and checks, and/or the total amount ofauthenticated and properly discriminated checks and currency bills, etc.The outside accounting system uses the total of properly discriminatedand authenticated checks and currency bills to update the accountidentified in the deposit request. The cash in component 618 is usedsimilarly to the cash out means described above, and acts as an internalreceipt for the deposit device, making balancing simpler and moreefficient. The receipt component 620 may be used in the same manner asthe receipt component 520 described in reference to the dispensingdevice and creates a record for the customer. In some embodiments, thereceipt means 620 in the present embodiment allows the customer to seewhich checks and currency bills did not get immediately deposited andwhy. This is extremely useful in decreasing customer dissatisfaction.The customer knows almost immediately what the final deposit amount willbe and why it may differ from the amount declared as the deposit amount.

[0156] Of course, not all sensors 610 a-610 d need be included in allembodiments, but rather it is contemplated that some of these sensorsmay be omitted in different embodiments (e.g., depending on the needs ofa particular application). Likewise, as described above, thefunctionality of these various sensors may be combined. For example,based on the scanned image of a document using image scanner 610 a, adocument may be discriminated as to type (e.g., check vs. currency bill)and/or denomination or value (e.g., check amount). Likewise, the size ofa document may be determinable using the information retrieved for theimage scanner and/or such information may be used to authenticate thedocuments. Accordingly, one or more of the sensors 610 b-610 d may beomitted. Likewise, in some embodiments, the ability to perform certainfunctions such as authentication and/or imaging may be omitted and thusthe sensors otherwise needed to perform such functions may be omitted.For example, in some embodiments designed to only process currencybills, the image scanner may be omitted while in others an; imagescanner may be included.

[0157] Likewise, the arrangement of the sensors 610 a-610 d may bevaried.

[0158] In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the deposit deviceand the dispensing device are connected and are used in connection witheach other. Such devices are useful, because a customer can make bothdeposits and withdrawals at the same location and also, the financialinstitution needs to only purchase one machine, which is less costly andalso takes up less space. In the deposit and dispensing combinationdevices, the operation of the devices are the same as the two describedabove, with the exception that an operator may only have to input onetransaction request which may include both deposit and withdrawalrequests. This also saves time for the customer, in that it will takeless time and the customer only has to enter information once.

[0159] In some embodiments, the data in the memory 616 may be used tosubsequently track the deposited documents back to the person whodeposited them and/or to the account to which they were deposited. Thisis helpful if a currency bill is later returned as or determined to becounterfeit. For example, using the data stored in memory such as thestored images of deposited documents and/or extracted serial number dataand account number data linked to a stored document image or serialnumber, the bank or other institution can correctly debit the party whodeposited the subsequently discovered counterfeit for the counterfeitand not have to bear the loss. The tracking procedure is more fullydescribed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/965,428,filed on Sep. 27, 2001, and herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety. Also, the image stored in the memory 616 may also be used forreceipt purposes, or to prove a deposit at a later date.

[0160] In some embodiments containing both a deposit device and awithdrawal device, such as that described in connection with FIGS. 9 and10, components the devices may be shared. For example, the devicesdepicted in FIGS. 7 and 8 may function both as a deposit device and adispensing device. In these devices, many of the components such asportions of the transport mechanism, the evaluation sensors, and theoutput receptacles may be used during both a deposit and a dispensingoperation.

[0161] The systems and devices discussed above can also be used forcurrency conversion. For example, the device can be adapted to accept adeposit in U.S. dollars and dispense a corresponding amount of a foreigncurrency or substitute currency. Alternatively, an amount to bedispensed can be specified in U.S. Dollars and the device can thendispense a corresponding amount of a foreign currency or substitutecurrency. For example, during a conversion transaction, a customer mayprovide a teller $300 (U.S.) and request the equivalent amount ofJapanese yen. The operator could enter $300 into the device and requestdispensing of an equivalent amount of Japanese yen, taking into accountthe current exchange rate. Using the device of FIG. 9 as an example, theprocessor or controller 508 would be programmed to make the necessaryexchange calculation and to automatically dispense an appropriate amountof Japanese yen from the appropriate dispensing receptacles 502 a-f.

[0162] Using a multiple-stacker configuration such as in FIG. 7, forexample, an automated currency conversion system can be provided. Forexample, deposited US dollars could be placed in input receptacle 540 ofFIG. 7. The bills could then be transported through the machine,denominated (e.g., in evaluation section 445), totaled and restacked inoutput receptacle 450 b. Subsequently, an appropriate amount of foreigncurrency residing in one or more of dispensing receptacles 440 a-f couldbe dispensed into output receptacle 450 a-the dispensed currency alsobeing denominated in, e.g., evaluation section 445 prior to beingdispensed into the output receptacle 450 a.

[0163] Some additional embodiments contemplated by the device will nowbe described. For ease of understanding, the embodiments will be labeledA through K.

[0164] Alternate Embodiment A

[0165] In this embodiment, a currency processing system for processingcurrency to be deposited and withdrawn from a financial accountcomprises an entry device. The entry device is adapted to accept acustomer identification number that associates a customer to a financialinstitution account. The entry device is further adapted to accepttransaction information, which includes both withdrawal and depositamounts. Also included in the system is a deposit device that is adaptedto denominate each of a plurality of currency bills that are insertedinto the deposit device. The deposit device has an image scanner thatobtains images of the dispensed bills and obtains a denomination of thedispensed bills based on the images. The currency processing system alsoincludes a currency dispenser that has a dispensing receptacle thatdispenses a requested number of currency bills to an output receptacleand has a denomination discriminating unit. The denominatingdiscriminating unit includes a detector and a processor. The detectorgenerates a characteristic information output signal in response todetected characteristic information. The characteristic informationoutput signal is electrically coupled to the processor and the processorreceives the characteristic information output signal and generates adenomination signal in response. The processor also associates eachdeposit amount with the financial account into which the currency billsare deposited.

[0166] Alternate Embodiment B

[0167] In this embodiment, a document deposit and withdrawal processingsystem comprises an input receptacle that receives a plurality ofdocuments to be deposited. At least one of the deposited documents has avalue associated with it. The system also includes a storage receptaclefor receiving the plurality of documents to be deposited and a scanningsystem to scan at least a portion of the deposited and to obtain thevalue of the deposited documents. To transport the documents from theinput receptacle, past the scanning system, and to the storagereceptacle, a transport mechanism is included. Further included in thesystem is a dispensing receptacle for holding a plurality of currencybills and an output receptacle for receiving the currency bills form thedispensing receptacle. The transport mechanism transports the documentsfrom the dispensing receptacle, past the scanning system and to theoutput receptacle. The scanning system denominates the dispensedcurrency bills. To obtain a deposit amount—the sum of the value of thedeposited documents—a processor is also included and is in communicationwith the scanning system. The processor also obtains the withdrawalamount—the sum of the denominations of the dispensed currency bills. Thedeposited amount and the withdrawal amounts are all stored in a memorythat is coupled to the processor.

[0168] Alternative Embodiment C

[0169] This embodiment includes a document deposit and withdrawal systemcomprising a deposit device, a currency bill dispenser, a userinterface, and a processor. The deposit device includes aninputreceptacle for receiving a plurality of documents to be depositedand at least one storage receptacle adapted to receive the plurality ofdeposited documents. A scanning transport mechanism transports each ofthe plurality of deposit documents, one at a time, from the inputreceptacle, past a scanner, and to the at least one storage receptacle.The scanner scans at least a portion of the deposited documents.

[0170] The currency bill dispenser includes a plurality of dispensingreceptacles, each of the dispensing receptacles holding a plurality ofcurrency bills having the same denomination. Different dispensingreceptacles hold currency bills of different denominations. The currencybill dispenser also includes an output receptacle and a dispensingtransport mechanism that transports currency bills, one by one, from thedispensing receptacles and tot he output receptacle. The currency billdispenser also includes a counter that counts the number anddenomination of the currency bills that are being disbursed from thedispensing receptacles.

[0171] The user interface receives information from a user and is incommunication with the processor. The processor is also in communicationwith the currency bill dispenser and the deposit device. The processorconverts information received by the user interface into commands to atleast one of the currency bill dispenser and the deposit device.

[0172] Alternative Embodiment D

[0173] In this embodiment, a currency processing system for processingcurrency bills to be withdrawn and currency bills to be deposited,comprises a currency bill dispenser having a plurality of dispensingreceptacles. Each of the dispensing receptacle holds a plurality ofcurrency bills, and each of the dispensing receptacles only holds onedenomination of currency bill. The currency bill dispenser also includesan output receptacle for receiving the dispensed currency bills and afirst scanner for obtaining images of at least a portion of a currencybill that is dispensed. The first scanner is also used to denominate thedispensed currency bill. A dispensing transport mechanism transport thedispensed documents from the plurality of dispensing receptacles, pastthe first scanner and to the output receptacle.

[0174] The currency processing system also comprises a deposit devicethat includes an input receptacle for receiving a stack of currencybills and at least one storage receptacle for holding the depositedcurrency bills. A second scanner is included and obtains an image of aportion of the deposited currency bill in order to denominate thedeposited currency bill. The deposited currency bills are transportedfrom the input receptacle, past the second scanner, and to the storagereceptacle by a depositing transport mechanism.

[0175] Alternate Embodiment E

[0176] In this embodiment, a currency dispensing and accepting systemthat is designed to denominate currency bills being dispensed andaccepted comprises a plurality of dispensing receptacles, each of thedispensing receptacles holding a plurality of currency bills. Each ofthe dispensing receptacles holds bills having the same denomination,such that different dispensing receptacles hold bills having differentdenominations. A dispensed bill output receptacle receives dispensedcurrency bills from the dispensing receptacle via a transport mechanism.An image scanner obtains images of the dispensed currency bills todenominate the currency bills and is located along the transportmechanism. A bill accepting receptacle is also included and receives astack of currency bills to be accepted into the system. The transportmechanism also transports currency bills from the bill acceptingreceptacle from the bill accepting receptacle past the image scanner,such that the accepted currency bills are also denominated.

[0177] Alternate Embodiment F

[0178] This embodiment includes a document processing system forprocessing currency bills to be withdrawn from a financial account anddocuments to be deposited into the financial account, the documentsinclude currency bills and checks. The document processing systemcomprises a currency bill dispenser and a deposit device. The currencybill dispenser includes a plurality of dispensing receptacles. Each ofthe dispensing receptacles holds a plurality of currency bills, suchthat each of the dispensing receptacles holds one denomination ofcurrency bill. An output receptacle is also included in the currencybill dispenser and receives the dispensed currency bills. The currencybills are denominated by a first denominator, which is located along atransport mechanism. The transport mechanism transports the dispensedcurrency bills, one by one, from the dispensing receptacles, past thefirst denominator and to the output receptacle.

[0179] The deposit device includes an input receptacle that receives astack of documents, including currency bills and checks. A storagereceptacle is included that holds the deposited currency bills andchecks. The deposited currency bills are denominated by a seconddenominator and the deposited checks are imaged by an image scanner,which obtains full images of the checks. A depositing transportmechanism transports the deposited currency bills, one by one, from theinput receptacle, past the second denominator and to the storagereceptacle. Furthermore. The depositing transport mechanism transportsthe deposited checks from the input receptacle, past the image scannerand to the storage receptacle.

[0180] Alternative Embodiment G

[0181] This embodiment is of a document processing system for processingcurrency bills to be withdrawn from a financial account and documents tobe deposited into the financial account, the documents includingcurrency bills and financial institution documents. The system comprisesa currency bill dispenser that includes a plurality of dispensingreceptacles. Each of the dispensing receptacles is adapted to hold aplurality of currency bills, such that each of the dispensingreceptacles holds one denomination of currency bill. The currency billdispenser also includes an output receptacle for receiving the currencybills and a first scanner for obtaining an image of a portion of acurrency bill being dispensed and for denominating the dispensedcurrency bill. The dispensed currency bills are transported from theplurality of dispensing receptacles, past the first scanner, and to theoutput receptacle by a dispensing transport mechanism.

[0182] The document processing system also comprises a deposit device,which includes an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents,including both checks and currency bills. A storage receptacle is alsoincluded in the deposit device and holds the plurality of depositeddocuments. Full images of the deposited documents are obtained by animage scanner. The documents are transported from the input receptacle,past the image scanner, and to the storage receptacle by a depositingtransport mechanism.

[0183] Alternative Embodiment H

[0184] In this embodiment, a document processing system for processingcurrency bills to be withdrawn from a financial account and documents tobe deposited into the financial account, comprises a currency billdispenser, a deposit device, and a processor. The currency billdispenser includes a plurality of dispensing receptacles, an outputreceptacle, a first scanner, and a dispensing transport mechanism. Eachof the plurality of dispensing receptacles holds a plurality of currencybills, such that each of the dispensing receptacles holds onedenomination of currency bill. The first scanner obtains an image of aportion of a currency bill being dispensed and denominates the dispensedcurrency bill. The output receptacle receives the dispensed currencybills, after scanning. The transport mechanism transports the dispensedcurrency bill from one of the plurality of dispensing receptacles, pastthe first scanner and to the output receptacle.

[0185] The deposit device includes an input receptacle for receiving astack of documents, wherein the documents include currency bills andchecks. At least one storage receptacle is also included and is adaptedto hold a plurality of currency bills and checks. The deposit devicefurther has a second scanner that obtains an image of a portion of acurrency bill being deposited, and thus denominates the currency bill.The second scanner authenticates the currency bill being deposited, anycurrency bills failing an authentication test being referred to assuspect bills. Full images are then taken of the suspect bills by animage scanner. The image scanner also obtains images of the depositedchecks. A depositing transport mechanism is also included and transportsdeposited currency bills, one by one, form the input receptacle, pastthe second scanner, past the image scanner and to the storagereceptacle. Deposited checks are transported by the transport mechanismfrom the input receptacle, past the image scanner, and to the storagereceptacle.

[0186] The processor is in communication with the first scanner, thesecond scanner, and the image scanner. The processor: instructs thesecond scanner to scan the deposited currency bills; causes the imagescanner to not obtain images of deposited currency bills that aredetermined to be authentic; and causes the image scanner to obtainimages of suspect currency bills. The system of the present embodimentprocesses authenticated currency bills at a first rate and checks andsuspect bills at a second, slower rate.

[0187] Alternate Embodiment 5

[0188] Another embodiment is a method for processing a withdrawalrequest using a dispensing device, comprising receiving customeridentification information into an entry device. Next, the systemreceives the withdrawal request into the entry device. Then, the systemdispenses currency bills corresponding to the withdrawal request bytransmitting the currency bills from a currency bill. Dispenser, past ascanner, and to an output receptacle. After scanning the currency billsas the currency bills are transmitted past the scanner to obtain thedenomination of the dispensed currency bills, the system links thedenomination of the dispensed currency bills to the customer'sidentification information.

[0189] Alternative Embodiment J

[0190] This embodiment is a method of updating a financial accountbelonging to a customer, comprising accepting a customer identificationnumber relating a customer to a particular financial institution accountand accepting transaction information. The transaction informationincludes a withdrawal request having a withdrawal amount and a depositrequest having a deposit amount. Documents are then accepted into ascanning device, which scans the document to obtain a value of thedocuments deposited through the use of a sensor in the scanning device.A number of currency bills associated with the withdrawal request arethen dispensed to an output receptacle. Each of the deposited documentsare then associated with the financial institution account related tothe customer identification number, as is the deposit and withdrawalrequests. The system then stores the value of the scanned documents, thedeposit and withdrawal amounts, and the customer identification numberin a memory. The deposit and withdrawal amounts are transmitted to anaccounting system associated with the financial institution account,which is then credited for the deposit amount and debited with thewithdrawal amount.

[0191] Alternative Embodiment K

[0192] Another embodiment is a method for processing a transactionutilizing a document scanner, the transaction relating to a financialaccount associated with a customer, comprising receiving customeridentification information into an entry device. A transaction requestis received into the entry device, and the transaction request includesat least one of a declared deposit amount and a declared withdrawalamount. The deposit amount is transmitted to a processor. The documentscanner then receives a plurality of documents to be deposited andtransports the deposited documents, one by one, past an image scanner.The image scanner obtains an image of each of the deposited documentsand a transaction amount for each of the deposited documents isobtained. The transaction amounts of the deposited documents are thensummed, which is then compared to the declared deposit amount.

[0193] The withdrawal amount is transmitted to the processor, whichdisburses currency bills from a plurality of dispensing receptacles to atransport mechanism. The transport mechanism transmits the currencybills from the dispensing receptacles and to an output receptacle. Thedisbursed currency bills are then counted and denominated. The numberand denomination of the currency bills disbursed are then compared tothe declared withdrawal amount. A receipt is printed that summarizes thetransaction.

[0194] The customer identification number is associated with the depositand withdrawal amounts. The system then stores the images of the scannedcurrency bills, the deposit and withdrawal amounts, and the customeridentification number in a memory.

[0195] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and herein described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention tothe particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination desktop currency denominatingmachine and currency dispenser comprising: a currency denominatingmodule comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of aplurality of currency bills to be processed; one or more outputreceptacles adapted to receive the currency bills after being processed;a denominating sensor adapted to acquire evaluation data from billstransported past the sensor; a main transport mechanism adapted totransport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle, past thedenominating sensor, and to the one or more output receptacles at a rateof at least 400 bills per minute; a processor coupled to thedenominating. Sensor and adapted to receive the evaluation data; theprocessor being programmed to determrine the denomination of a currencybill if evaluation data associated with the currency bill satisfactorilycompares with master denominating information, the processor furtherbeing programmed to calculate the total value of the stack of currencybills received into the input receptacle when the evaluation data ofeach bill in the stack satisfactorily compares with the masterdenominating information at a rate of at least 400 bills per minute; anda currency dispensing module comprising: one or more dispensingreceptacles, each receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of currencybills having the same denomination; a dispenser transport mechanismadapted to transport bills, one at a time, from the one or moredispensing receptacles to the main transport mechanism upstream of thedenominating sensor; an interface adapted to receive informationspecifying the total value of currency to be dispensed; wherein theprocessor is also coupled to the interface and adapted to control thedispenser transport mechanism so as to selectively transport theappropriate number of currency bills from the one or more dispensingreceptacles to the main transport mechanism based on the specified totalvalue of currency to be dispensed and wherein using the evaluation datareceived from the denominating sensor the processor verifies that thetotal value of currency bills dispensed from the dispensing module tothe one or more output receptacles equals the specified total value. 2The combination desktop currency denominating machine and currencydispenser of claim 1 further comprising a housing, wherein the currencydenominating module, the currency dispensing module, and the processorare contained within the housing.
 3. The combination desktop currencydenominating machine and currency dispenser of claim 2 wherein theeffective footprint of the housing is less than about 1½ square feet. 4.A vertically arranged combination desktop currency denominating machineand currency dispenser comprising: a currency denominating moduleadapted to receive a stack of currency bills to be denominated and todenominate the received currency bills, wherein a transport mechanismtransports bills individually from an input receptacle adapted toreceive the stack of currency bills to one or more output receptacles;and a dispenser retaining section adapted to store currency bills to bedispensed to the one or more output receptacles during a dispensingoperation, the retaining section comprising one or more dispensingreceptacles, each dispensing receptacle adapted to hold bills having acommon denomination, wherein the dispenser retainer section ispositioned above the currency denominating module.
 5. A currencyprocessing system adapted to receive currency bills from a user,dispense bills to a user and denominate both bills received and billsdispensed, wherein the system comprises: an input receptacle adapted toreceive a stack of currency bills; a dispensing receptacle adapted tocontain a stack of currency bills to be dispensed; an output receptaclepositioned to receive currency bills, and positioned to be easilyaccessible to a user; a transport mechanism adapted to transport billsindividually from the input receptacle to the output receptacle, and totransport bills individually from the dispensing receptacle to theoutput receptacle; a sensor adapted to acquire evaluation data frombills being transported from the input receptacle and the dispensingreceptacle to the output receptacle; and a processor coupled to thesensor adapted to perform a denomination evaluation of a bill based onthe acquired evaluation data associated with the bill, whereby each billreceived from a user may be subjected to a denomination test and eachbill to be dispensed to a user may be subjected to a denomination test.6. The system of claim 5, comprising a plurality of dispensingreceptacles, including the dispensing receptacle, wherein the dispensingreceptacles are coupled to the transport mechanism upstream of the inputreceptacle.
 7. A currency processing system comprising: a denominatingmodule adapted to receive a stack of bills and to denominate the bills,wherein the denominating module comprises: a single input receptacleadapted to receive a stack of currency bills; one or more outputreceptacles positioned lower than the single input receptacle; atransport mechanism adapted to transport bills individually from theinput receptacle to at least one of the one or more output receptacles;a sensor positioned lower than the input receptacle and adapted toacquire evaluation data from a bill being transported toward the one ormore output receptacles; and a processor coupled to the sensor andadapted to perform a denomination test on a bill based on evaluationdata associated with the bill; and wherein the processing systemcomprises a dispensing module comprising: two or more dispensingreceptacles positioned higher than the input receptacle, each adapted tocontain a stack of currency bills, and each coupled to the transportmechanism, wherein the transport mechanism transports bills individuallyfrom the dispensing receptacles past the sensor to the one or moreoutput receptacles, wherein the processor is adapted to determine a sumassociated with a plurality of bills received in the input receptacle,and is adapted to determine a sum associated with a plurality of billsdispensed from the two or more dispensing receptacles.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the input receptacle is aft of the one or more outputreceptacles and the two or more dispensing receptacles are aft of theinput receptacle.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the transportmechanism defines a transport path and the system comprises a widthperpendicular to the transport path less than about 30 inches.
 10. Thesystem of claim 8 further comprising a housing having a footprint ofless than about 325 square inches.
 11. The system of claim 8 furthercomprising a housing having a volume of less than about 12,000 cubicinches.
 12. A currency processing system for receiving a stack ofcurrency bills from a user, for dispensing bills to a user, and fordenominating both bills received and bills dispensed, wherein the systemcomprises: an input receptacle for receiving the stack of bills; asingle output receptacle for receiving processed bills, wherein thesingle output receptacle is spaced apart from the input receptacle andeasily accessible to the user; a transport mechanism adapted totransport bills individually from the input receptacle to the singleoutput receptacle; a dispensing receptacle adapted to contain bills fordispensing; a dispensing mechanism adapted to dispense billsindividually from the dispensing receptacle to the transport mechanismfor individual transport to the single output receptacle; a sensorpositioned relative to the transport mechanism to acquire evaluationdata from each bill, in seriatim, as the bills are transported to thesingle output receptacle; and a processor coupled to the sensor andadapted to determine denomination of a bill based on the evaluation dataassociated with the bill, whereby each bill transported to the singleoutput receptacle may be denominated.
 13. A currency processing systemfor receiving bills, dispensing bills, and denominating bills, whereinthe system comprises: an input receptacle for receiving bills; a singleoutput receptacle spaced apart from the input receptacle and easilyaccessible to a user; a transport mechanism defining a transport pathadapted to transport bills individually from the input receptacle to thesingle output receptacle wherein the single output receptacle is downstream of the input receptacle; a first dispensing receptacle forcontaining bills; a second dispensing receptacle for containing bills; afirst dispensing mechanism adapted to transport bills individually fromthe first dispensing receptacle to the transport mechanism wherein thetransport mechanism then transports the bills to the single outputreceptacle; a second dispensing mechanism adapted to transport billsindividually from the second dispensing receptacle to the transportmechanism, wherein the transport mechanism then transports the bills tothe single output receptacle; a sensor adapted to acquire evaluationdata associated with a bill wherein the sensor is positioned along thetransport path to acquire data associated with bills from the inputreceptacle and data associated with bills from the dispensingreceptacles as the bills are transported to the output receptacle; and aprocessor coupled to the sensor and adapted to determine denomination ofa bill based on the evaluation data associated with the bill, whereinboth bills from the dispensing receptacles and bills from the inputreceptacle are evaluated.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the inputreceptacle is positioned downstream of the dispensing receptacles andthe sensor is positioned downstream of the input receptacle.
 15. Thesystem of claim 13, comprising a securing device arranged to restrictaccess to the dispensing receptacles while allowing easy access to theinput receptacle and single output receptacle.
 16. A currency processingsystem for denominating currency bills, including stacks of currencybills, wherein the system comprises: a first output receptacle forreceiving processed bills; a second output receptacle for receivingprocessed bills; a transport mechanism adapted to create a stream ofindividual bills, wherein the second output receptacle is downstream ofthe first output receptacle; an input receptacle for receiving a stackof currency bills, wherein the input receptacle is upstream of the firstoutput receptacle and the transport mechanism is adapted to transportbills individually from the input receptacle toward the outputreceptacles; a sensor upstream of the output receptacles adapted toacquire evaluation data for each bill, individually, as the bills flowtoward the output receptacles; a first dispensing receptacle upstream ofthe sensor for supporting a supply of bills to be dispensed; a firstdispensing mechanism adapted to dispense bills from the first dispensingreceptacle to the transport mechanism, wherein the transport mechanismcauses the bills to flow individually within range of the sensor andtoward the output receptacles; and a processor coupled to the sensor andadapted to process evaluation data associated with a bill and generate asignal indicating either a denomination or an error, wherein the bill istransported to either the first output receptacle or the second outputreceptacle according to the signal.
 17. A currency processing systemcomprising: an input receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of currencybills; a dispensing receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of bills; adispensing mechanism coupled to the dispensing receptacle and adapted todispense bills; an output receptacle for currency bills, wherein theoutput receptacle is spaced apart from the input receptacle and easilyaccessed; a transport mechanism adapted to transport bills dispensed bythe dispensing mechanism and bills from the input receptacle, whereineach bill is individually transported downstream by the mechanism to theoutput receptacle; a sensor positioned downstream of the inputreceptacle to acquire evaluation data from each bill, individually, asthe bills are transported downstream to the output receptacle; and aprocessor coupled to the sensor and adapted to generate a signalindicating either a denomination of a bill or an error, wherein thesignal generated is based on the evaluation data associated with thebill.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor is adapted to scaneach bill.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor is adapted toimage each bill, and the evaluation data comprises replication data. 20.The system of claim 19, wherein the sensor is adapted to acquirereplication data sufficient to replicate a full one-sided image of eachbill.
 21. The system of claim 19 wherein the sensor is adapted toacquire replication data sufficient to replicate a portion of an imageof each bill.
 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the sensor is adaptedto operate at about 400 to about 600 bills per minute.
 23. A currencyprocessing system comprising: a single output receptacle easilyaccessible and adapted to hold a plurality of bills; a transportmechanism adapted to transport bills individually toward the singleoutput receptacle at a rate of at least about 800 bills per minute; aninput receptacle spaced apart from the output receptacle, connected tothe transport mechanism, easily accessible and adapted to hold aplurality of bills; a dispensing receptacle spaced apart from the inputreceptacle and adapted to hold a plurality of bills; a dispensingmechanism connected to the dispensing receptacle and adapted to dispensebills toward the transport mechanism; a sensor positioned to acquireevaluation data from each bill, individually, as the bills aretransported toward the output receptacle; and a processor coupled to thesensor and adapted to perform a predetermined denomination analysis ofevaluation data associated with a bill, wherein denomination of the billmay be determined based on the evaluation data of the bill.
 24. Thesystem of claim 23, wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to removebills individually from the input receptacle.
 25. The system of claim23, comprising a barrier for restricting access to the dispensingreceptacle.
 26. The system of claim 23, wherein the input receptacle ispositioned higher than the output receptacle.
 27. The system of claim26, wherein the dispensing receptacle is positioned higher than theinput receptacle.
 28. The system of claim 23, comprising a guidecoupling the dispensing mechanism to the transport mechanism, whereinthe guide is adapted to guide bills moving from the dispensing mechanismto the transport mechanism.
 29. A currency processing system kitcomprising: a denominating module comprising a single output receptacleeasily accessible and adapted to hold a plurality of bills, an inputreceptacle easily accessible, spaced apart from the output receptacle,and adapted to hold a plurality of bills, a transport mechanismconnecting the input receptacle to the output receptacle and adapted totransport bills individually to the output receptacle, a sensorpositioned to acquire evaluation data from each bill, individually, asthe bills are transported toward the output receptacle, a processorcoupled to the sensor and adapted to determine denomination of a billbased on the evaluation data associated with the bill, and a userinterface coupled to the processor and adapted to receive from a user acurrency amount to be dispensed to the output receptacle and adapted tooutput to the user a currency total associated with bills put in theinput receptacle; and the kit further comprising a dispenser modulecomprising a dispenser receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of bills,and a dispenser mechanism coupled to the dispenser receptacle, whereinthe dispenser mechanism is adapted to be coupled to the user interfaceand adapted to dispense bills based on the currency total received bythe user interface.
 30. A denomination module for a currency system,wherein the module comprises: one or more output receptacles easilyaccessible and adapted to hold a plurality of bills; an input receptacleeasily accessible, spaced apart from the output receptacle, and adaptedto hold a plurality of bills; a transport mechanism connecting the inputreceptacle to the output receptacle and adapted to transport billsindividually from both the input receptacle and a dispensing module tothe output receptacle, wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to becoupled to a dispensing module; a sensor positioned to acquireevaluation data for bill, individually, as the bills are transportedtoward the output receptacle, wherein the transport mechanism is adaptedto be coupled to a dispensing module; a processor coupled to the sensorand adapted to denominate a bill based on the evaluation data associatedwith the bill; and a user interface coupled to the processor and adaptedto output to a user a currency total associated with a stack of billsput in the input receptacle wherein the user interface is also adaptedto receive from a user a currency total associated with a plurality ofbills to be dispensed to the one or more output receptacles based on thecurrency total.
 31. The denomination module of claim 30, wherein theprocessor is adapted to determine one or more bill-quantities for one ormore predetermined bill denominations, wherein the determination ofbill-quantities is based on the currency total received from the user.32. A dispensing module adapted for use in a currency system comprisinga denomination module, wherein the denomination module comprises atransport mechanism adapted to transport bills individually toward anoutput receptacle, a sensor positioned to a acquire evaluation data frombills, individually, as the bills are transported toward the outputreceptacle, a processor coupled to the sensor and adapted to denominatea bill based on evaluation data associated with the bill and a userinterface adapted to receive from a user a currency total to bedispensed to a user, and wherein the dispensing module comprises: adispensing receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of bills; a dispensingmechanism connected to the dispensing receptacle and adapted to dispensebills, individually, from the dispensing receptacle at a rate of atleast 800 bills per minute, and adapted to be coupled to the userinterface to dispense bills based on the currency total received by theuser interface and further adapted to be coupled to the transportmechanism.
 33. The dispensing module of claim 32, comprising a guide forguiding bills from the dispensing mechanism to the transport mechanism,wherein the guide is adapted to couple the dispensing mechanism and thedenomination module, and the guide has a predetermined configuration.34. A combination desktop currency denominating machine and currencydispenser comprising: a currency denominating module comprising: aninput receptacle adapted to receive a stack of a plurality of currencybills to be processed; one or more output receptacles adapted to receivethe currency bills after being processed; a denominating unit adapted toacquire evaluation data from bills transported past the denominatingunit, the denominating unit comprising at least one denomination sensorand at least one image scanner; a main transport mechanism adapted totransport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle, past thedenominating unit, and to the one or more output receptacle; a processorcoupled to the denominating unit and adapted to receive the evaluationdata; the processor being programmed to determine the denomination of acurrency bill if evaluation data associated with the currency billsatisfactorily compares with master denominating information, theprocessor further being programmed to calculate the total value of thestack of currency bills received into the input receptacle when theevaluation data of each bill in the stack satisfactorily compares withthe master denominating information; and a currency dispensing modulecomprising: one or more dispensing receptacles, each receptacle adaptedto hold a plurality of currency bills having the same denomination; adispenser transport mechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time,from the one or more dispensing receptacles to the main transportmechanism upstream of the denominating unit; an interface adapted toreceive information specifying the total value of currency to bedispensed; wherein the processor is also coupled to the interface andadapted to control the dispenser transport mechanism so as toselectively transport the appropriate number of currency bills from theone or more dispensing receptacles to the main transport mechanism basedon the specified total value of currency to be dispensed and whereinusing the evaluation data received from the denominating unit theprocessor verifies that the total value of currency bills dispensed fromthe dispensing module to the one or more output receptacles equals thespecified total value.
 35. The combination desktop currency denominatingmachine and currency dispenser of claim 34, wherein the denominationsensor comprises a detector positioned to receive light reflected off ofpassing bills, and the detector is adapted to generate a characteristicinformation output signal in response to detected characteristicinformation, the characteristic information output signal beingelectrically coupled to the processor; and wherein the image scanner isadapted to scan each passing bill.
 36. The combination desktop currencydenominating machine and currency dispenser of claim 35, wherein theimage scanner is adapted to image each bill, and acquire replicationdata.
 37. The combination desktop currency denominating machine andcurrency dispenser of claim 36, wherein the image scanner is adapted toacquire replication data sufficient to replicate a full one-sided imageof each bill.
 38. The combination desktop currency denominating machineand currency dispenser of claim 36, wherein the image scanner is adaptedto acquire replication data sufficient to replicate a portion of animage of each bill.
 39. The combination desktop currency denominatingmachine and currency dispenser of claim 38, wherein the replication datais electronically stored in a manner that allows the replication data tobe searched and retrieved.
 40. The combination desktop currencydenominating machine and currency dispenser of claim 39, wherein theelectronically stored replication data may be searched and retrieved ifthe bill imaged is later determined to be counterfeit.
 41. Thecombination desktop currency denominating machine and currency dispenserof claim 35, wherein the transportation mechanisms transport bills at arate in excess of 400 bills per minute.
 42. The combination desktopcurrency denominating machine and currency dispenser of claim 35,wherein the transportation mechanisms transport bills at a rate of about600 bills per minute.
 43. The combination desktop currency denominatingmachine and currency dispenser of claim 34, further comprising ahousing, wherein the currency denominating module, the currencydispensing module, and the processor are contained within the housing.44. The combination desktop currency denominating machine and currencydispenser of claim 34, wherein the effective footprint of the housing isless than about 1½ square feet.
 45. A combination desktop currencydenominating and dispensing device comprising: a currency denominatingmodule comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of aplurality of currency bills to be processed; one or more outputreceptacles adapted to receive the currency bills after being processed;a denominating sensor adapted to acquire evaluation data from billstransported past the sensor; a main transport mechanism adapted totransport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle, past thedenominating sensor, and to the one or more output receptacles at a rateof at least 400 bills per minute; a processor coupled to thedenominating sensor and adapted to receive the evaluation data; theprocessor being programmed to determine the denomination of a currencybill if evaluation data associated with the currency bill satisfactorilycompares with master denominating information, the processor furtherbeing programmed to calculate the total value of the stack of currencybills received into the input receptacle when the evaluation data ofeach bill in the stack satisfactorily compares with the masterdenominating information at a rate of at least 400 bills per minute; anda currency dispensing module comprising: one or more dispensingreceptacles, each receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of currencybills having the same denomination; a dispenser transport mechanismadapted to transport bills, one at a time, from the one or moredispensing receptacles to the main transport mechanism upstream of thedenominating sensor; an interface adapted to receive informationspecifying the total value of currency to be dispensed; wherein theprocessor is also coupled to the interface and adapted to control thedispenser transport mechanism so as to selectively transport theappropriate number of currency bills from the one or more dispensingreceptacles to the main transport mechanism based on the specified totalvalue of currency to be dispensed and wherein using the evaluation datareceived from the denominating sensor the processor verifies that thetotal value of currency bills dispensed from the dispensing module tothe one or more output receptacles equals the specified total value. 46.A combination desktop currency denominating and dispensing devicecomprising: a currency denominating module comprising: an inputreceptacle adapted to receive a stack of a plurality of currency billsto be processed; one or more output receptacles adapted to receive thecurrency bills after being processed; a denominating sensor adapted toacquire evaluation data from bills transported past the sensor; a maintransport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, fromthe input receptacle, past the denominating sensor, and to the one ormore output receptacles at a rate of at least 400 bills per minute; aprocessor coupled to the denominating sensor and adapted to receive theevaluation data; the processor being programmed to determine thedenomination of a currency bill if evaluation data associated with thecurrency bill satisfactorily compares with master denominatinginformation, the processor further being programmed to calculate thetotal value of the stack of currency bills received into the inputreceptacle when the evaluation data of each bill in the stacksatisfactorily compares with the master denominating information at arate of at least 400 bills per minute; and a currency dispensing modulecomprising: one or more dispensing receptacles, each receptacle adaptedto hold a plurality of currency bills having the same denomination; adispenser transport mechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time,from the one or more dispensing receptacles to the main transportmechanism upstream of the denominating sensor; an interface adapted toreceive information related to currency to be dispensed; wherein theprocessor is also coupled to the interface and adapted to control thedispenser transport mechanism so as to selectively transport theappropriate number of currency bills from the one or more dispensingreceptacles to the main transport mechanism based on the informationrelated to currency to be dispensed and wherein using the evaluationdata received from the denominating sensor the processor verifies thatthe total value of currency bills dispensed from the dispensing moduleto the one or more output receptacles equals the specified informationrelated to currency to be dispensed.
 47. A combination desktop currencydenominating and dispensing device comprising: a currency denominatingmodule comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of aplurality of currency bills to be processed; one or more outputreceptacles adapted to receive the currency bills after being processed;a denominating sensor adapted to acquire evaluation data from billstransported past the sensor; a main transport mechanism adapted totransport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle, past thedenominating sensor, and to the one or more output receptacles at a rateof at least 400 bills per minute; a processor coupled to thedenominating sensor and adapted to receive the evaluation data; theprocessor being programmed to determine the denomination of a currencybill if evaluation data associated with the currency bill satisfactorilycompares with master denominating information, the processor furtherbeing programmed to calculate the total value of the stack of currencybills received into the input receptacle when the evaluation data ofeach bill in the stack satisfactorily compares with the masterdenominating information at a rate of at least 400 bills per minute; anda currency dispensing module comprising: one or more dispensingreceptacles, each receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of currencybills having the same denomination; a dispenser transport mechanismadapted to transport bills, one at a time, from the one or moredispensing receptacles to the main transport mechanism upstream of thedenominating sensor; an interface adapted to receive informationspecifying currency to be dispensed; wherein the processor is alsocoupled to the interface and adapted to control the dispenser transportmechanism so as to selectively transport the appropriate number ofcurrency bills from the one or more dispensing receptacles to the maintransport mechanism based on the specified currency to be dispensed andwherein using the evaluation data received from the denominating sensorthe processor verifies that the total value of currency bills dispensedfrom the dispensing module to the one or more output receptacles equalsthe specified currency to be dispensed.
 48. A combination desktopcurrency denominating and dispensing device comprising: a currencydenominating module comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive astack of a plurality of currency bills to be processed; one or moreoutput receptacles adapted to receive the currency bills after beingprocessed; a denominating sensor adapted to acquire evaluation data frombills transported past the sensor; a main transport mechanism adapted totransport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle, past thedenominating sensor, and to the one or more output receptacles at a rateof at least 400 bills per minute; a processor coupled to thedenominating sensor and adapted to receive the evaluation data; theprocessor being programmed to determine the denomination of a currencybill if evaluation data associated with the currency bill satisfactorilycompares with master denominating information, the processor furtherbeing programmed to calculate the total value of the stack of currencybills received into the input receptacle when the evaluation data ofeach bill in the stack satisfactorily compares with the masterdenominating information at a rate of at least 400 bills per minute; anda currency dispensing module comprising: one or moredispensing-receptacles, each receptacle adapted to hold a plurality ofcurrency bills having the same denomination; a dispenser transportmechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time, from the one ormore dispensing receptacles to the main transport mechanism upstream ofthe denominating sensor; an interface adapted to receive currencydispensing information; wherein the processor is also coupled to theinterface and adapted to control the dispenser transport mechanism so asto selectively transport the appropriate number of currency bills fromthe one or more dispensing receptacles to the main transport mechanismbased on the currency dispensing information and wherein using theevaluation data received from the denominating sensor the processorverifies that the total value of currency bills dispensed from thedispensing module to the one or more output receptacles equals thespecified currency dispensing information.
 49. The combination desktopcurrency denominating and dispensing device of claim 48 furthercomprising a housing, wherein the currency denominating module, thecurrency dispensing module, and the processor are contained within thehousing.
 50. The combination desktop currency denominating anddispensing device of claim 49 wherein the effective footprint of thehousing is less than about 1½ square feet.
 51. A currency processingsystem adapted to receive currency bills from a user, dispense bills toa user and denominate both bills received and bills dispensed, whereinthe system comprises: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack ofcurrency bills; a plurality of dispensing receptacles adapted to containstacks of currency bills to be dispensed, the stacks of currency billscontained in the dispensing receptacles being externally accessible to auser during normal operation; an output receptacle positioned to receivecurrency bills and positioned to be easily accessible to a user; atransport mechanism adapted to transport bills individually from theinput receptacle to the output receptacle, and to transport billsindividually from the dispensing receptacle to the output receptacle; asensor adapted to acquire evaluation data from bills being transportedfrom the input receptacle and the dispensing receptacle to the outputreceptacle; and a processor coupled to the sensor adapted to perform adenomination evaluation of a bill based on the acquired evaluation dataassociated with the bill, whereby each bill received from a user may besubjected to a denomination test and each bill to be dispensed to a usermay be subjected to a denomination test.
 52. A combination desktopcurrency denominating and dispensing device comprising: a currencydenominating module comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive astack of a plurality of currency bills to be processed; one or moreoutput receptacles adapted to receive the currency bills after beingprocessed; a denominating unit adapted to acquire image data from billstransported past the denominating unit, the denominating unit comprisingat least one image scanner for obtaining an image of the bills fordetermining the denomination of the bills using the image; a maintransport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, fromthe input receptacle, past the denominating unit, and to the one or moreoutput receptacle; a processor coupled to the denominating unit andadapted to receive the evaluation data; the processor being programmedto determine the denomination of a currency bill if image dataassociated with the currency bill satisfactorily compares with masterdenominating information, the processor further being programmed tocalculate the total value of the stack of currency bills received intothe input receptacle when the evaluation data of each bill in the stacksatisfactorily compares with the master denominating information; and acurrency dispensing module comprising: one or more dispensingreceptacles, each receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of currencybills having the same denomination; a dispenser transport mechanismadapted to transport bills, one at a time, from the one or moredispensing receptacles to the main transport mechanism upstream of thedenominating unit; an interface adapted to receive currency dispensinginformation; wherein the processor is also coupled to the interface andadapted to control the dispenser transport mechanism so as toselectively transport the appropriate number of currency bills from theone or more dispensing receptacles to the main transport mechanism basedon the currency dispensing information and wherein using the evaluationdata received from the denominating unit the processor verifies that thetotal value of currency bills dispensed from the dispensing module tothe one or more output receptacles equals the specified currencydispensing information; and a housing, wherein the currency denominatingmodule, the currency dispensing module, and the processor are containedwithin the housing, the housing having an effective footprint of lessthan about 1½ square feet and the housing having a volume of less thanabout 12,000 cubic inches.
 53. A method of depositing and dispensingcurrency using a desktop currency denominating and dispensing devicecomprising an input receptacle, a transport path, a single outputreceptacle, a processor, an interface, and one or more dispensingreceptacles comprising the acts of: receiving a stack of U.S. Billshaving at least one of a plurality of U.S. Bill denominations to bedeposited in the input receptacle of the device; transporting the billsreceived, one at a time, from the input receptacle along the transportpath at a rate of at least 400 bills per minute; determining thedenomination of the bills received including bills of a plurality ofU.S. Denominations at a rate in excess of 400 bills per minute;delivering the bills received whose denominations have been determinedincluding bills of a plurality of denominations to a single outputreceptacle; removing the bills whose denominations have been determinedfrom the single output receptacle; inputting a withdrawal request intothe processor via the interface; dispensing at least one U.S. Billhaving at least one of a plurality of U.S. Bill denominations to bedispensed to satisfy the withdrawal request from the one or moredispensing receptacles, each receptacle adapted to hold a plurality ofcurrency bills having the same denomination; transporting the at leastone bill dispensed from the one or more dispensing receptacles along thetransport path; determining the denomination of the at least one U.S.Bill dispensed at a rate in excess of at least 400 bills per minute; anddelivering to the single output receptacle the at least one U.S. Billdispensed.
 54. A method of depositing and dispensing currency using adesktop document denominating and currency dispensing device comprisingan input receptacle, a transport path, a single output receptacle, animage scanner, a processor, a controller, an interface, and one or moredispensing receptacles comprising the acts of: receiving a stack ofdocuments including U.S. Bills having at least one of a plurality ofU.S. Bill denominations to be deposited in the input receptacle of thedevice; transporting the documents received, one at a time, from theinput receptacle along the transport path at a rate of at least 400documents per minute; scanning the documents with the image scanner;generating image data output signals in response to information scannedon the documents; receiving image data output signals with theprocessor; determining the document type and value with the controllerbased on the image data output signals; delivering the documentsreceived to a single output receptacle; removing the documents from thesingle output receptacle; inputting a withdrawal request into theprocessor via the interface; dispensing at least one U.S. Bill having atleast one of a plurality of U.S. Bill denominations to be dispensed tosatisfy the withdrawal request from the one or more dispensingreceptacles; each receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of currencybills having the same denomination; transporting the at least one billdispensed from the one or more dispensing receptacles along thetransport path; determining the denomination of the at least one U.S.Bill dispensed at a rate in excess of at least 400 bills per minute; anddelivering to the single output receptacle the at least one U.S. Billdispensed.
 55. The method of claim 54 wherein the image data outputsignals are used for OCR.
 56. The method of claim 54 wherein the imagedata output signals are used for ICR.
 57. The method of claim 54 whereinthe image data output signals are used for reading a bar code on thedocuments.
 58. A vertically arranged combination desktop currencydenominating and dispensing machine comprising: a currency denominatingmodule adapted to receive a stack of currency bills to be denominatedand to denominate the received currency bills, wherein a transportmechanism transports bills individually from an input receptacle adaptedto receive the stack of currency bills to one or more outputreceptacles; and a dispenser retaining section adapted to store currencybills to be dispensed to the one or more output receptacles during adispensing operation, the retaining section comprising one or moredispensing receptacles, each dispensing receptacle adapted to hold billshaving a common denomination, wherein the dispenser retainer section ispositioned above the currency denominating module and the dispensingreceptacles are externally accessible to a user during normal. Operationof the machine.
 59. A vertically arranged combination desktop currencydenominating and dispensing machine comprising: a currency denominatingmodule adapted to receive a stack of currency bills to be denominatedand to denominate the received currency bills, wherein a transportmechanism transports bills individually from an input receptacle adaptedto receive the stack of currency bills to one or more outputreceptacles; and a dispenser retaining section adapted to store currencybills to be dispensed to the one or more output receptacles during adispensing operation, the retaining section comprising one or moredispensing receptacles, each dispensing receptacle adapted to hold billshaving a common denomination, wherein the dispenser retainer section ispositioned above the currency denominating module and the dispensingreceptacles are covered by a barrier to deny a user access to thedispensing receptacles during normal operation of the machine.
 60. Acurrency processing system adapted to receive currency bills from auser, dispense bills to a user and denominate both bills received andbills dispensed, wherein the system comprises: an input receptacleadapted to receive a stack of currency bills; a dispensing receptacleadapted to contain a stack of currency bills to be dispensed, thedispensing receptacle being externally accessible during normaloperation; an output receptacle positioned to receive currency bills,and positioned to be easily accessible to a user; a transport mechanismadapted to transport bills individually from the input receptacle to theoutput receptacle, and to transport bills individually from thedispensing receptacle to the output receptacle; a sensor adapted toacquire evaluation data from bills being transported from the inputreceptacle and the dispensing receptacle to the output receptacle; and aprocessor coupled to the sensor adapted to perform a denominationevaluation of a bill based on the acquired evaluation data associatedwith the bill, whereby each bill received from a user may be subjectedto a denomination test and each bill to be dispensed to a user may besubjected to a denomination test.
 61. A currency processing systemadapted to receive currency bills from a user, dispense bills to a userand denominate both bills received and bills dispensed, wherein thesystem comprises: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack ofcurrency bills; a dispensing receptacle adapted to contain a stack ofcurrency bills to be dispensed, the dispensing receptacle having abarrier to prevent access to the dispensing receptacle during normaloperation; an output receptacle positioned to receive currency bills,and positioned to be easily accessible to a user; a transport mechanismadapted to transport bills individually from the input receptacle to theoutput receptacle, and to transport bills individually from thedispensing receptacle to the output receptacle; a sensor adapted toacquire evaluation data from bills being transported from the inputreceptacle and the dispensing receptacle to the output receptacle; and aprocessor coupled to the sensor adapted to perform a denominationevaluation of a bill based on the acquired evaluation data associatedwith the bill, whereby each bill received from a user may be subjectedto a denomination test and each bill to be dispensed to a user may besubjected to a denomination test.